Janet M (Scully) O'Shea

Janet M (Scully) O’Shea, of Needham, passed away on Dec 14, 2021. She was 85.

Janet was born in Boston and raised in Hingham, Massachusetts. She graduated from Hingham High School where she was a member of the National Honor Society and noted to be “Most Sophisticated” in her graduating class. She went on to earn her BA in English from Regis College. After college, she was a social worker for the City of Boston in Columbia Heights and later worked at Boston College in the Woods College of Advancing Studies. 

Janet had a big heart for both humans and animals. For years, she took time each week to make meatloaf to be delivered to Rosie’s Place (a homeless shelter for women in Boston). She would bring injured birds to the Animal Rescue League or MSPCA and filled her family’s home with pets ranging from cats to snakes to birds to fish to hamsters.

Janet was an avid gardener and flower arranger. She was recognized with awards at the New England Flower Show for excellence in color and design. She was past president of the Needham Garden Club and active member of the Kalmia Garden Club and the Massachusetts Horticultural Society. 

Janet also had a passion for art which made her a perfect fit to serve on the Ladies Committee at the Museum of Fine Arts Boston. There she worked with others to create beautiful floral displays throughout the Museum as well working the information desk and serving as a docent. After completing her service on the Ladies Committee, she continued her work at the Museum by becoming a gallery instructor where she was able to share her love and knowledge of art with school groups throughout the Greater Boston area. 

When she was not at the Museum or arranging flowers, she loved playing tennis and golf and relaxing with friends and family on the deck of her summer home on Cape Cod.

Janet was the beloved wife for 54 years of Arthur J. O’Shea, and the loving mother of Jennifer Margaret O’Shea and her spouse Cary Samulka and their children Max and Natalie Samulka, Daniel Arthur O’Shea and his spouse Noelle O’Shea and their children Ann, Katharine, Clare and Charles, and Elizabeth Marie O’Shea Speed and her spouse Christopher Speed and their children Declan and Maeve. Sister of Arthur and Charles Scully and the late Marilyn Buckley. 

Relatives and friends are invited to attend her Mass of Christian Burial on Thursday Jan 13, 2022 at 11 AM in St. John the Evangelist Church, 9 Glen Rd Welllesley followed by interment in St. Mary's Cemetery Needham. 

There are no visiting hours.

Masks are required for anyone attending the Mass. 

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in honor of Janet to the Alzheimer’s Association of Massachusetts: https://www.alz.org/manh 

TO VIEW A LIVESTREAM OF THE MASS GO TO 

https://sjspwellesley.org/sj/live/

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Janet M (Scully) O'Shea, please visit our floral store.