MALDEN: Gladys M. (Heller) Shea, 85, died peacefully Wednesday morning, July 29, 2009, at Merrimack Valley Hospice House in Haverhill.

Born in East Stroudsburg, PA on November 6, 1923, Mrs. Shea was the daughter of the late Archibald F. and Rosella (Staples) Heller.

Mrs. Shea moved from Pennsylvania to Massachusetts in 1946, settling in Cambridge in 1951 where she raised her family. She worked as a receptionist at Mass Envelope Co. for eighteen years before she retired and moved to Malden in the late 1980's. Mrs. Shea found great enjoyment in reading, and was a talented and creative seamstress.

Mrs. Shea is survived by her children, Margaret Makris and her husband Louis of Nahant, Barbara Rostosky and her husband Edward of Haverhill, Christine Robicheau of Middleton, Paula Blasik and her husband John of Manchester, NH, Edward Shea of Derry, NH, Nancy Sheehan and her husband Patrick of Hampstead, NH, Hollylynn Jenness and her husband Ernest of Nashua, NH; eleven grandchildren; four great grandchildren; three nieces, Sally Carpenter and Susan Flad, both of Phillipsburg, NJ, and Sherry Flad of Cahokia, IL; and a step-brother, Richard Heller of NY. She was predeceased by her former husband Harold E. Shea, her sister, Catherine E. Flad, and step-brother, Harrison W. Heller, Sr.

Calling hours are Saturday from 10-11 a.m. at Dole, Childs & Shaw Funeral Home, 148 Main Street, Haverhill; with memorial services following at 11:00 a.m. Interment will be at the Lithuanian Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations in her memory may be made to Merrimack Valley Hospice House, 360 North Avenue, Haverhill, MA 01830.

Online condolences may be sent to www.dcsfuneralhome.com