Evelyn Dias Shea, 85, Was Native of Tisbury

Evelyn Dias Shea of Vineyard Haven died Thursday, Feb. 5, at the Watson House Community Care Home in North Bennington, Vt. She was 85 years old. She was the daughter of Mathew and Virginia Dias.

She was born Jan. 5, 1919, in Vineyard Haven and was a lifelong resident of Martha's Vineyard Island until recently, when she moved to be closer to her daughter, Julia Shea. She was the widow of Jeremiah Shea, who predeceased her in December of 1994.

She was the mother of Michael L. Shea of Sugar Land, Tex., Peter R. Shea of Sharon and Julia A. Shea of North Bennington, Vt. She was the sister of Alice Coutinho of Oak Bluffs and Clara Burke of West Tisbury. She was the grandmother of Hilary Shea of Boston, Alison Shea of Thomaston, Conn., Jonathan Shea of Yucaipa, Calif., Kristina Shea of Cambridge, England, Melanie Shea of Sugar Land, Tex., Kala Shea of Pembroke, Adam Shea of Boston and Lettie Stratton of North Bennington, Vt. She was also the great-grandmother of three children. She also leaves many nieces and nephews.

Mrs. Shea was the sister of the late William Dias, Mary Swartz and Virginia Muckerheide.

A memorial service will be held at a later date. Donations may be made to the Visiting Nurse Service, P.O. Box 369, Vineyard Haven, MA 02568 and to the Hospice of Martha's Vineyard, P.O. Box 2549, Oak Bluffs, MA 02557. Arrangements are by Chapman, Cole and Gleason Funeral Home in Oak Bluffs.