04/10/2010
Ottawa, ON
An Obituary for Former Corpus-NCR Member Jean James - By Jim Noonan
Jean Marion James, the wife of Corpus member Jack Shea, died peacefully on April 10, 2010 at their home in Ottawa following a stroke and a brief illness. She was born in Long River, Prince Edward Island in 1930. Jean attended the Universities of Prince Edward Island, Dalhousie and Queen's. She graduated from the London School of Economics with a Doctorate in Philosophy.
She was Director of Research for the Social and Family Services Department of the Government of Ontario. Before retirement she was Registrar of Canadian Citizenship with the Department of the Secretary of State.
Jean was an Elder and a very active member of St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church in Ottawa, the same church in which she and Jack were married in an ecumenical ceremony thirty years ago. A Service of Thanksgiving for her life was held in this church on April 14. Many members of Corpus-National Capital Region attended the Service.
Following a Commital Service in the Long River United Church in Prince Edward Island, Jean was interred in the Geddie Memorial Cemetery in New London, Prince Edward Island.
Jean was known to Corpus Canada members from her attendance at several Corpus conferences in Canada with Jack. She and Jack were leaders in establishing Corpus-National Capital Region. They hosted numerous Corpus gatherings and potluck meals at their home in Ottawa. Jean also attended many meetings of married priests organizations both in the United States and in Europe. She was an unfailing support and loving companion of her husband Jack in all his work in these organizations over some twenty years.