Obituary of Erna O'Shea

Erna Baillet O’Shea nee: Browne

May 19, 1936 – April 21, 2024

Born in Marble Hill NYC to the late Daniel Baillet Browne and Erna Marie Keppler, she attended the St. John’s School and Walton High School in Kingsbridge and was baptized, made first communion, confirmation and was married at St. John’s Church in Kingsbridge. She and her parents spent their summers at Robbins Rest on Fire Island.

She met Tom O’Shea at Hunter College in the Bronx and though they would eventually divorce, they reconnected in the mid 1990s and retired together to Keene, New Hampshire where they made many friends.

Erna was a trail blazing working mother in an age of stay-at-home moms. Truly one of the smartest people you could meet; Erna was well versed in literature, the arts, political science, design and sports. An avid Brooklyn Dodgers fan, she always said there was a “special place” for Walter O’Malley for moving the team to LA. (Those who are old enough know what that means.) Later she became a die-hard New York Mets fan and attended the very first game at CitiField. She was also an enthusiastic Knicks supporter.

With a specialty in employment placement, she put her numerous skills sets to work at many noted businesses, municipalities and academic institutions: The City of NY Employment Agency, Ergonomics, Con Edison, Women in Action NYC, the Fashion Institute of Technology and lastly as the Director of Admissions at Marymount Manhattan College. An avid and talented quilt maker, she started a small business after retirement called “Quilts by Golly.” To have received an Erna O’Shea quilt was an phonor bestowed with love.

She adored her family and friends fiercely especially son Matthew, grandchildren Conor, Kate and Tommy and her daughter in law Katie Connell O’Shea. Her steady Keene, NH posse of Norma Jean Holmes and Kathy McGuire kept her laughing and cared for after Tom died and right up until the end. Isabel Neddow and the late Ann Murphy Miller were her best friends for life from Marble Hill.

She was an ardent believer in prayer and prayed to the Holy Mother every night. She leaves a large void in the lives of those that loved her.

In lieu of flowers donations may be made to the following organizations:

The Religious of The Sacred Heart of Mary

(“in memory of Erna O’Shea” will go to retired sisters’ fund)

https://www.rshm-east.org/donate/

Native American Rights Fund

https://narf.org