Dorothy “Doris” (nee Brannigan) Shields, 99, and formerly of Toms River, passed away peacefully Easter Sunday, after a brief illness, surrounded by her loving family. Born in Plains, PA, she was the daughter of Christopher and Anna Hogan Brannigan. She married the love of her life Francis A. Shields on March 6, 1942 who predeceased her in 1963. She was also predeceased by her son Thomas Christopher Shields in 2009, as well as her six siblings.
She moved to New Jersey early on and worked as a switch board operator and bookkeeper, retiring at 75. After her husband’s death, she spent the next fifty years with her sister, Rose. They moved to Great Barrington in 2002 to be closer to family. Before the loss of her sight, she enjoyed watching the news, Jeopardy and Wheel of Fortune, and reading daily newspapers to keep current, “playing Solitaire all by myself” and never wavering from her beloved Yankees.
A devout Catholic with unflappable faith, she was a communicant of St. Peter’s Church, attending mass until it became impossible for her to do so. It was very fitting and special for her to pass on one of the Holiest days of the year.
Doris is survived by her two daughters Maureen Hosford and her husband David and Kathleen (Katie) Shields and her partner James Daniels. She also leaves six grandchildren; Tracey Shields (Timothy Lawlor), Christopher Shields, Ryan Shields (Amanda Starr Shields), Corey Shields, Courtney Shields, and Sophia Hosford as well as six great grandchildren; Natasha, Lorelei, Tristan, Reilly, Trevor and Zachariah and many loving nieces and nephews.
Visitation will be at O’Brien Funeral Home, 505 Burnt Tavern Road, Brick, on Friday from 4-7pm. Burial will be at St. Gertrude’s Cemetery, Colonia, on Saturday at 11am. In lieu of flowers, please donate to St. Jude’s, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105.