Ialeen F. (Reardon) Shanahan, 93, of Groveland, MA passed away on January 3, 2012 after a period of declining health.

Born December 9, 1918 in Haverhill, MA, Ialeen graduated from Haverhill High School, Class of 1936. She attended the McIntosh School of Business in Andover, MA and spent most of her professional life at Hooker Howe Costume Company in Bradford, MA. She also spent a short time working at Western Electric in North Andover, MA. She was an active member of St. Patrick Parish in Groveland, MA and a member of the Catholic Daughters of America.

When she wasn't spending time with her family, she could always be found reading a good book.

She is predeceased by her loving husband John M. Shanahan, with whom she shared 56 years of marriage before his death in 1997. She was also the mother of the late Mary Shanahan, Nancy Shanahan, and Barbara Shanahan. We know they welcomed her home with loving arms, as did her parents, the late William J. and Catherine (McCauley) Reardon, her brothers, Jack Reardon and Frank Reardon, and her sister and best friend, Mary (Reardon) Pauk.

She is survived by her devoted daughter, Martha Shanahan of Newbury, her grandchildren who were the light of her life, Amy (Williams) Lopata and her husband, Justin of Haverhill, MA, Alyson (Williams) Carroll and her husband, Joseph of Glen Allen, VA, and Craig Williams and his wife, Emily of Winthrop, MA. She was blessed in her final years with the gift of seven grandchildren, Peter, Emma, Catherine "Kitty," and Jack Lopata, and Emily, Abigail, and Liam Carroll.

Other surviving family include "The Out to Lunch Brunch" consisting of her sisters-in-law, Eileen (Boner) Shanahan, Mary (Shanahan) Cleary, and Betty (Rice) Shanahan as well as many nieces and nephews including Kathryn (Reardon) Wajda of Maryland and William Pauk of Haverhill, MA and their families.

Relatives and friends may call on Monday, January 9, 2012 from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m at Berube-Comeau Funeral Home, 47 Broadway, Haverhill, MA. A Mass of Christian Burial will follow at 12 p.m. at Saint Patrick Church, 114 Center Street, Groveland, MA. Burial will take place at St. James Cemetery, Haverhill, MA.
The family requests that memorial denotation be made in her name to the Barbara Shanahan Scholarship Fund, care of Pentucket Regional High School, 24 Main Street, West Newbury, MA.

To leave a message of condolence, please visit our website at www.berubecomeau.com.