Wilfred Michael “Mike” Shea loved Myrtle, his wife of 63 years, and would often ask his children with sincere wonder throughout their marriage and after her death, “How did I get so lucky as to marry your mother?” Mike loved his children, grandchildren, and all his extended family. He loved the men and friends he fought alongside in the Korean War. He loved his Yokefellow prison partners and the inmates they visited weekly whom he referred to as, “his boys.” He loved N.C. State – his cross country and track teammates, the runners he coached there, the students he taught, and his decades-long co-workers and gym buddies. He loved the younger athletes he coached too: runners at Cardinal Gibbons High School and summer swimmers at Oak Park and Springdale. He loved his fellow Legion of Mary members, fellow Our Lady of Lourdes parishioners, and he loved his friends and Raleigh neighbors.

But most of all, Mike loved God and was deeply devoted to his Roman Catholic faith. He would like nothing better than for the announcement of his death to bring his loved ones – and anyone – to the celebration of the Holy Mass. He believed in the life-changing and life-giving power of the Mass and would have found immense joy if you were to continue to attend after his funeral. While there, know that you are welcome to step into the Adoration Chapel, a special place of prayer, where Mike spent hundreds of hours. So, please, come to Mass at noon (which follows praying of the rosary at 11:30 a.m.) on Saturday, November 2, at Our Lady of Lourdes Church in Raleigh. A reception in the Lourdes’ Fallon Center will immediately follow. Mike’s burial will be Monday, November 4, at 11 a.m. at Raleigh Memorial Park on Glenwood Avenue. God bless.