Natalee Niec Shea

Natalee Niec Shea, 71, St. Joseph, MI, passed away peacefully at her home among family on Sunday, October 30, 2005. A Celebration of Life Memorial Service will be held 10:00 A.M., Friday, November 4, 2005, at Niles Avenue Baptist Church, 1301 Niles Ave., St. Joseph, with Pastor Randy Pearman officiating. Arrangements have been entrusted to Kerley-Starks & Menchinger Family Funeral Home, 2650 Niles Rd., St. Joseph. Natalee was born March 17, 1934, in Chicago, IL, to Joseph and Priscilla (Glenicki) Niec. She graduated from Alvernia High School in 1952, and then attended Rosary College in River Forest, Illinois. She earned her Bachelor’s degree in Childhood Development at Northeastern University in Chicago, and then received her Master’s Degree in Gerontology from Goddard Institute through the University of Chicago. Natalee married Richard Shea on September 25, 1954. She dedicated her life to health and fitness, and was a pioneer in developing programs for infants, toddlers, and seniors. She was Women’s Director of the Leaning Tower Y.M.C.A. She was a massage therapist and taught yoga for twenty-five years. In high school she was a swimming champion. She loved the water and continued swimming throughout her life, including scuba diving and exploring coral reefs. She loved to camp, ski, and share outdoor activities with her friends, children and grandchildren. Her artistic nature flowed into her home, landscaping and all that she did. Natalee touched the lives of many people and will be remembered for her kind and generous spirit. She will be truly missed. She is survived by her mother Priscilla (Niec) Weclew of Park Ridge, Illinois; children Sheila (John) Klest of Dexter, OR, Richard (Kim) Shea of Park City, UT, and Sandra (John) Pera of Wakefield, MI; grandchildren Bridget, Jon, Andre and Sihu Klest, Jeremy Borlek, Rose, Dylan, Grace, and Faith Pera, Parker and Tyler Shea; great grandchildren Catlynn and Abigail Borlek; and brothers Michael Niec of Stevensville, MI, and Anthony (Carol) Niec of Grays Lake, IL. She was preceded in death by her father Joseph Niec and daughter Karen Shea.