Mary Jane (Murphy) Shields

Mary Jane (Murphy) Shields, passed away peacefully on January 7, 2014, surrounded by her family.

Mary Jane, a resident of Marco Island, Florida, and formerly Boston, was the cherished wife of Thomas F. Shields. Born in Brockton, MA., on August 5, 1929, she was the daughter of Anna Madeline (Mackin) Murphy and John J. Murphy. 

Mary Jane graduated from Boston College and St. Margaret’s Hospital School of Nursing and cared for patients at St. Margaret’s Hospital, Dorchester, MA and Manhattanville College, NY. At the age of 24, Mary established the Madalawn Nursing Home in Brockton with her mother and two brothers. She later went on to earn a nurse practitioner’s certificate from Boston University. In 1959, Mary married Thomas F. Shields of Weymouth. They spent their earlier years of marriage in Weymouth and Rye, New York, raising their seven children before returning to the Boston area in 1972. Mary and Tom began building the Shields Health Care Group, a family business offering out-patient MRI, radiation oncology, positron emission tomography, elder care and dialysis services. Thomas A. Shields, Jr., President of Shields Health Care and Mary’s youngest son recalls his mother as “an individual of sterling character, grace and faith, who was the catalyst for establishing a health care enterprise committed to exceptional care for all regardless of means.” 

Mary especially enjoyed family gatherings and reunion trips with the Shields’ seven children, twenty-one grandchildren, friends and extended family to Cape Cod, Hawaii, The Greenbrier Resort in West Virginia, Ireland, England, Israel and Rome. 

Mary was a devoted daughter, niece, loving wife, mother, grandmother, friend and daily communicant whose strong Catholic faith guided her throughout her life. Galvanized by Mary’s legacy of goodness and help for others, the Shields family has supported causes and organizations including the Epilepsy Foundation, Brain Science Foundation, Brockton Boys & Girls Club, Habitat for Humanity, and scholarship aid for students of Boston College, Boston College High School, Nativity Prep Boston, St. Michael’s College, Trinity Catholic Academy and Stonehill College where the Science Center bears the name of Mary and Tom Shields. Mary served as a community leader and trustee of organizations and institutions including Massasoit Community College and the Fuller Craft Museum. Mary was the recipient of the Laboure Medal from Laboure College, the Trustee Founders’ Award from Trinity Catholic Academy, the Northeastern University Family Business Award for Innovation and the New England Baptist Spirit of Excellence. Yet her greatest legacy is her drive and determination to create a career of caring for others, which ensured her mother would no longer be forced to work in a shoe factory. Her life was a testament to the American Dream.    

In addition to Tom, her devoted husband of 55 years, Mary is survived by her loving children Carmel and her husband John A. Mannix of Chestnut Hill, MA; William F. of Scituate, MA;  John M. Sr. and his wife Kathleen (Whitehouse) of Duxbury, MA;  Colleen S. Griffin and her husband Kevin of Duxbury, MA; Siobhan S. Quinn and her husband Tom of Windham, NH; Erin S. McCarthy and her husband Stephen of Duxbury, MA; Thomas A. Shields Jr. and his wife Patrice (Gaynor) of Norwell, MA; her devoted grandchildren Bronwyn Shields; Fallon Shields-McElnea, Jack Will and Madeline Shields;  Mary, Fiona, Niamh and Emmett Griffin; Thomas, James, Mary and Anna Quinn; Connor, Siobhan, Maeve, Bridget and Seamus McCarthy; Kerri, Kelly and Caitlin Shields; great grand-daughter Maya McElnea; a brother Thomas B. Murphy and his wife Jacquelyn of Novi, Michigan. She was predeceased by her brother Jack Murphy and his wife Alice. Also survived by many treasured nieces, nephews and cousins. 

Visiting hours: Friday, January 10 from 3:00pm – 7:00 pm  at The Church of the St. Ignatius of Loyola, 28 Commonwealth Avenue, Chestnut Hill, MA 02467. A celebration of Mary’s life will take place on Saturday, January 11 at 11:00 am at the same location. 

In lieu of flowers and in celebration of Mary’s legacy, kindly consider donations to the Campion Health Center www.campionhealthcenter.org, William F. Connell School of Nursing at Boston College School www.bc.edu, Laboure School of Nursing www.laboure.edu,  National Stroke Association www.stroke.org.