The Episcopal Diocese of West Tennessee is saddened to announce the death of the Reverend Deacon Nancy O’Shea. Deacon Nancy died on January 13, 2025.
A Missouri native, Deacon Nancy was ordained to the Vocational Diaconate in the Episcopal Diocese of West Missouri in 1985. Soon after, she moved to the Diocese of West Tennessee. From 1985 to 2019, she served as Deacon at St. Mary’s Cathedral in Memphis.
Deacon Nancy served as Pastoral Assistant at Church of the Holy Communion in the mid-2010s. Additionally, she served as Supply Clergy at many churches in West Tennessee and was well-loved at All Saints, Christ Church Brownsville, Holy Trinity, and Immanuel Ripley.
Beyond her parish work, Deacon Nancy contributed greatly to the wider diocese, serving on committees and commissions under the leadership of Bishop Alex Dickson, Bishop James Coleman, and Bishop Don Johnson. She was a member of the Bishop Transition Committee when Bishop Phoebe Roaf arrived, and she was Diocesan Chaplain of the Daughters of the King.
Nancy married Patrick O’Shea on August 10, 1985. She found joy in gardening, reading, playing the organ, bird watching, and solving crosswords.
Please join us in holding Patrick and all who loved Nancy in prayer during this time of loss. Her funeral, followed by reception, will be held at St. Mary’s Episcopal Cathedral in Memphis on January 24, 2025 at 11 a.m. May Nancy’s soul, and the souls of all the departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace.
into the blessed rest of everlasting peace,
and into the glorious company of the saints in light.
Amen.
