Jan 24, 1923---Jan 19, 2025

Deloros Eileen (Robben) Shea was born January 24, 1923, in Angelus, Kansas. She was the eighth child of Herman H. and Anna A. (Von Lintel) Robben. After the death of her mother, she was later adopted by Anthony J. and Martha M. (Gerhart) Robben of Oakley, Kansas, where she was raised and received her education. She graduated from Oakley High School in 1941. She attended Brown-Mackie College in Salina, Kansas. She worked in Salina for a grain company until her marriage to Richard J. Shea. They were married May 17, 1949, at Sacred Heart Cathedral, Salina, Kansas.

Richard worked for Phillips Petroleum Company while Eileen was a homemaker. Due to transfers the couple spent their early-married life raising children in Great Bend, Kansas for nine years, in Eureka, Kansas for two years and in Westwood, Kansas for nine years.

Their final transfer was to Bartlesville, Oklahoma in 1970, where they belonged to St. John Catholic Church. Eileen was a member of their women’s association and the Bartlesville Garden Club. Eileen and Richard celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary before Richard’s death in 2010. Eileen moved to Overland Park, Kansas in 2016 to be near family, and she became a member of Holy Spirit Catholic Church.

She is survived by her children, Jennifer Lewis and husband Stan of Overland Park, Kansas; Richard J. Shea II and wife Bobbie of Prairie Village, Kansas; Michele Ivers and husband Phil of Arvada, Colorado; Kevin Shea and wife Laura of McKinney, Texas; Mark Shea and wife Diann of Laguna Niguel, California; eleven grandchildren, twelve great grandchildren and several nieces and nephews. 

She was preceded in death by her husband Richard, her parents, three brothers and four sisters.

The Rosary will be prayed at 9:30 a.m. with visitation following until the Funeral Mass at 10:30 a.m. on Friday, January 24, at Holy Spirit Catholic Church, 11300 W. 103rd St. Overland Park, KS.  Burial will be held at Memorial Park Cemetery, Bartlesville, OK. Memorials may be made to Holy Spirit Catholic Church, Guardian Angel fund or to Catholic Community Hospice.



Condolences

Ernie and Betsy Chaffin Jan 19, 2025

Karen Ivers King mother in law ,Poplar Bluff ,Missouri

Dear Michele and Phil, Karen, Oscar and Milo…Ernie and I are so sorry about the passing of such a precious lady. You are all so blessed to have had her in your lives for so many years, and still, it’s always especially hard to let go. Sending hugs and prayers for all of you, all of your family. We love you.

Michele Jan 20, 2025

Mom ,Arvada ,Colorado

Mom, I love you!! I was so blessed to have you as my mother. You were an inspiration with your kindness and compassion. Together, with my Dad, you were a team and raised a family to be proud of. Your love was unconditional. You were one strong woman, which is why you lived to be 101.99 years old. I am happy you are finally at peace. Love Michele

Judy Schwarz Zerr Jan 20, 2025

Cousin ,Hays ,Kansas

My mother was Frances Moellering Schwarz and always spoke highly of her cousin Eileen. When Aunt Estella Jueneman was on the TV show “Name That Tune”, Eileen opened her home in Great Bend, KS to her Aunt Elizabeth and Uncle John and family to watch TV. Mom was part of the group who made the trip and talked about how clear the picture was. My condolences to all her family. You are so blessed.

Diann Shea Jan 20, 2025

Daughter-in-law ,Laguna Niguel ,California

Dearest Mom, Thank you for being the best mother-in-law anyone could ask for. You were kind and caring from the moment we met. Mark and I enjoyed so many good times with you and Dad, and those special memories will be with us always. For those fortunate enough to have known you, you’ll be remembered as a very special lady — loving, strong, resilient, hard-working, dedicated, and supportive. You will be forever in my heart as I was honored and blessed to be your daughter-in-law. Love you, Diann

Phil Ivers Jan 22, 2025

Son-in-Law ,Arvada ,Colorado

Eileen Shea is irreplaceable on this Earth. Those fortunate enough to experience her love and affection can say that truth without reservation. Those who didn’t know her very well really missed out. I’m glad I didn’t miss out. Like her husband Dick, my father-in-law, Eileen was always keen to talk about Shea and Robben family history, which fascinated me for 45 years, still does, and will into the future. My tribute to her on this website is a really nice way of making sure that she is remembered and learned about by the generations to come. I want future generations in my family to know how wonderful Eileen was to have as my mother-in-law. Our sister-in-law Diann summed up our relationships with our mother-in-law perfectly . . . Eileen was the best mother-in-law that anyone could hope to have. I am so grateful to have been able to be her son-in-law all these years, and I want to list some of her best qualities for my children, grandchildren, nieces and nephews to read someday: Her Grace: In joining a family, we who become in-laws hope to really feel welcomed and that can’t happen if the welcome comes from only the mind. Eileen welcomed me into the Shea Family immediately and unconditionally from deep in her heart. And because I could always feel that welcome, I never doubted that acceptance one time in 45 years. That is what Grace feels like from the receiving end. Her Grandmothering: Grandma Shea took delight in her grandchildren, collectively and individually. It was so clear to see that and to feel that. Each photograph of her with each grandchild makes that delight and that affection perfectly visible. When she asked us, by name, how each grandchild was getting along, she was not going through a checklist – she felt connected to and responsible for each and every one and she needed to know how they were doing. That devotion continued until her last day. Her Hospitality: A carload of adult kids with and without grandkids piling into her home and disrupting quiet life for Dick and Eileen seemed to only bring her delight and joy. And she did all the right things that helped us believe she wanted us there. Because she did. Her normal daily life would be quickly suspended in favor of her life as a mother and grandmother. My memory of each and every trip to 824 Crown Drive is of being welcomed joyfully and unreservedly. We were fed and pampered like kings and queens. Because she was “all in” as a mother and as a grandmother. As long as I live, I will always measure hospitality on the Eileen Shea scale. Her Sacrifices: The list is just too long to convey. We all watched her take such compassionate and devoted care of her husband through his health decline, showing no resentment or self-pity through a very difficult period, which included her battling (and defeating) a serious health condition of her own. Her life is such a testament to selfless devotion that our world is going to be poorer without her in our lives. The Power of Her Smile and the Twinkle in her Eye: There is no telling how many times my heart was uplifted from its stresses and worries simply by receiving Eileen’s totally natural, authentic smile, which was authenticated by the twinkle in her eye. She was so much fun to be around. I will miss so much the gift of her affection, made powerful by that lovely smile. To all of Grandma Shea’s grandkids and great grandkids, and to others, there could be no more perfect role model for how to develop grace, grandparenting, hospitality, sacrifice, and cheerfulness than your Grandma or Great Grandma Shea. She has set the bar pretty high.

Richard Shea Jan 25, 2025

Son ,Prairie Village ,Kansas

I have shared this story with my family during Moms 90th birthday party many years ago. I want to repeat it now for others. Mom and Dad passed on same date 15 years apart, which also happened to be 5 days before her birthday. When Dad passed in 2010, I stayed in Bartlesville to take Mom to Sunday mass at St Johns on her birthday after Dad's funeral the day before. Toward the end on mass, the fairly new St Johns parish priest, whose name I am sorry I do not remember, came down to the aisle to have the congregation wish mom a happy birthday. Apparently while attending to Dad, the priest became very impressed with Mom's faith and got to know her quite well. In front of the whole congregation he pointed to Mom and declared "THIS WOMAN IS A SAINT" Now my siblings and I do not need 3 miracles and confirmation from the Vatican to know this simple fact. But hearing and seeing this just verifies what my family already knows: Eileen Shea is truly a saint now in heaven. We will miss her.

Photo Gallery

Services

Event:
Rosary
Location:
Holy Spirit Catholic Church
Address:
11300 W. 103rd St.
City:
Overland Park
State:
Kansas
Zip Code:
66214
Date:
Jan 24, 2025
Time:
9:30 AM
Google Map:
Event:
Visitation
Location:
Holy Spirit Catholic Church
Address:
11300 W. 103rd St.
City:
Overland Park
State:
Kansas
Zip Code:
66214
Date:
Jan 24, 2025
Time:
9:45 AM
Google Map:
Event:
Funeral Mass
Location:
Holy Spirit Catholic Church
Address:
11300 W. 103rd St.
City:
Overland Park
State:
Kansas
Zip Code:
66214
Date:
Jan 24, 2025
Time:
10:30 AM
Google Map: