Joann D. (Tracokas) Shea, 78, of Milton, died peacefully on Oct. 9 after a lengthy illness.
Born in Boston, she was a graduate of Girls Latin School, class of 1947.
In 1953, she married John J. Shea. They were married for 56 years. The two lived in Dorchester before moving to Milton in 1962.
While raising her family, Mrs. Shea was very involved with the Junior Guild of Catholic Charities of Boston. She was very active in the guild’s fund-raising and was also a past president.
In the late 1970s, she turned her floral hobby into a small business named Flowers by Joann. Her shop was located on Route 138 in Milton and later moved to Cohasset Village.
Wife of the late John J. Shea, she is survived by her children, Victoria Sullivan, of Randolph, John J. Shea and his wife, Jayne, of Walpole, Chris Shea, of Milton, David Shea and his wife, Maryanne, of Milton, and Tracy Lawless; her grandchildren, Joann, Edward, Lynne, David, Jack, Marrisa, Merdith, Kristen, Matthew, Allie, Chris and Lizzy; and her girlfriends who stayed close to her after her husband died.
She was the mother-in-law of the late Edward J. Sullivan and Christopher Lawless.
A Mass of Christian burial was celebrated in St. Pius X Church on Oct. 13. Burial was in Milton Cemetery.
Donations may be made to Hospice of the South Shore, 100 Bay State Drive, P.O. Box 859060, Braintree, MA 02185.
Arrangements were by the Chapman, Cole & Gleason Funeral Home.