Obituary for Donald J. Sheehan
Donald Joseph Sheehan passed away peacefully, surrounded by family on April 19, 2023 at the age of 92. He was preceded in death by his wife Shirley, and his siblings Virginia, Rosemary, Robert, Patsy, and John. He is survived by his siblings Joann, Elizabeth, and Jimmy. He is survived by his children Donald (Amy), Patrick (Barb), Timothy, Thomas, Marcella, Paul, Teresa, Virginia, Michael (Lisa), Angela, Kenneth (Heather), Kevin (Amy), William, and Louis (Mary), 19 grandchildren, and 14 great grandchildren.
Donald lived a life full of adventures. Like a good Irishman, he could weave a robust, outrageous story, which is how he earned the reputation of being a great storyteller. While in the Army in his mid-20s, he traveled alone on a bicycle named Black Beauty from Frankfurt, Germany over the Alps to Lourdes, France, and then on to Saint Peter’s Cathedral in Vatican City, Rome, Italy. A few years later he met Shirley while taking dance lessons at Arthur Murray’ Dance Studio. After a few years of marriage, they purchased a 34-acre farm to raise their children, goats, cows, ponies, and chickens. Early family vacations included many road trips to Florida, the Great Smoky Mountains, and even a road trip to Mexico with 12 kids! When the kids got older, family vacations became road trips full of camping and hiking in many national parks out west with whatever kids wanted to tag along. At the age of 76, he took a solo trip to Ireland with just a backpack of supplies, a camera, and a Europass. In addition to traveling, Donald enjoyed photography, poetry, computers, genealogy, and gardening. Donald’s adventurous spirit for exploration, nature, travel, and photography was contagious and that legacy lives on through his children and grandchildren.
Donald led a life of service working as the Executive Director of the Resident Home of Cincinnati. He then worked for many years as the District Manager of the Cincinnati region of the Ohio Bureau of Employment Services before retiring. Prior to those roles, Donald’s spiritual life was rich and deeply engrained such that he took the initial the steps to become a Catholic Priest by attending St. Joseph Seminary. He then visited Gethsemani Monastery in Kentucky and contemplated life as a Trappist Monk. He developed a long-term appreciation of the works of Thomas Merton and the Gethsemani Monks where he visited many times, the last time being about seven years ago. If you are so inclined, please support the Monks by making a purchase from The Abbey of Gethsemani (gethsemanifarms.org). The Sheehan kids have lots of experience with their bourbon fudge and fruitcakes as we received them as gifts every Christmas - from Santa. 😉
Visitation Wednesday, April 26th from 5pm-8pm at Neidhard-Minges Funeral Home, 3155 Harrison Ave Cincinnati, OH 45211. Funeral Mass Thursday, April 27th at 10:30am at St. Catharine of Siena Church, Westwood. Burial to follow at St. Joseph New Cemetery.
Donald lived a life full of adventures. Like a good Irishman, he could weave a robust, outrageous story, which is how he earned the reputation of being a great storyteller. While in the Army in his mid-20s, he traveled alone on a bicycle named Black Beauty from Frankfurt, Germany over the Alps to Lourdes, France, and then on to Saint Peter’s Cathedral in Vatican City, Rome, Italy. A few years later he met Shirley while taking dance lessons at Arthur Murray’ Dance Studio. After a few years of marriage, they purchased a 34-acre farm to raise their children, goats, cows, ponies, and chickens. Early family vacations included many road trips to Florida, the Great Smoky Mountains, and even a road trip to Mexico with 12 kids! When the kids got older, family vacations became road trips full of camping and hiking in many national parks out west with whatever kids wanted to tag along. At the age of 76, he took a solo trip to Ireland with just a backpack of supplies, a camera, and a Europass. In addition to traveling, Donald enjoyed photography, poetry, computers, genealogy, and gardening. Donald’s adventurous spirit for exploration, nature, travel, and photography was contagious and that legacy lives on through his children and grandchildren.
Donald led a life of service working as the Executive Director of the Resident Home of Cincinnati. He then worked for many years as the District Manager of the Cincinnati region of the Ohio Bureau of Employment Services before retiring. Prior to those roles, Donald’s spiritual life was rich and deeply engrained such that he took the initial the steps to become a Catholic Priest by attending St. Joseph Seminary. He then visited Gethsemani Monastery in Kentucky and contemplated life as a Trappist Monk. He developed a long-term appreciation of the works of Thomas Merton and the Gethsemani Monks where he visited many times, the last time being about seven years ago. If you are so inclined, please support the Monks by making a purchase from The Abbey of Gethsemani (gethsemanifarms.org). The Sheehan kids have lots of experience with their bourbon fudge and fruitcakes as we received them as gifts every Christmas - from Santa. 😉
Visitation Wednesday, April 26th from 5pm-8pm at Neidhard-Minges Funeral Home, 3155 Harrison Ave Cincinnati, OH 45211. Funeral Mass Thursday, April 27th at 10:30am at St. Catharine of Siena Church, Westwood. Burial to follow at St. Joseph New Cemetery.