Robert John Father Oshea

Father Robert John OShea

Father Robert John OShea of Belleville passed away on Tuesday, October 20, 2009 at the Rosewood Care Center in Swansea, having attained the age of 71 years, 11 months and 15 days.

Born on November 5, 1937 in Chicago, Illinois, he was the son of the late Lawrence Patrick and Helen Therese (Kinsella) OShea.

Father OShea graduated from the University of St. Mary of the Lake in Mundelein, Illinois in 1963 and from St. Louis University in 1968 with a Masters Degree in Education. He was ordained on June 1, 1963.
A member of the Knights of Columbus in DuQuoin and Herrin, Illinois, SCP 12-Step Group and the American Diabetes Association, Father OShea taught at Althoff Catholic High School in Belleville from 1965-1976, at Mater Dei Catholic High School in Breese from 1963-1965, at Assumption Catholic High School from 1976-1977 and Gibault Catholic High School from 1977-1980. He was the associate pastor at St. Marys Catholic Church in Trenton from 1963-1964, chaplain at St. Marys Hospital in Centralia from 1964-1965, chaplain at St. Elizabeth Hospital in Belleville from 1973-1974, pastor at St. Phillip Catholic Church in East St. Louis in 1977, associate pastor at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Columbia from 1977-1980, associate pastor at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Catholic Church in Herrin from 1980-1987, associate pastor at Church of the Holy Spirit in Carterville from 1980-1987, chaplain at St. Ann Nursing Home in Chester, pastor of Immaculate Conception Catholic Church on Kaskaskia Island, associate pastor at St. Peter and Paul Catholic Church in Waterloo from 1988-1991, chaplain at St. Joseph Hospital in Breese from 1991-1997. He retired in 1998.

Preceding him in death besides his parents were his sister, Betty OShea; his brother, Lawrence OShea in infancy; and cousins, Richard Rurup, John Gross, William and Mary Frances OShea and Rev. John OShea.

Survivors include his cousins, Helen Rurup of Park Forest, Illinois, Marie (Gross) Kohler of Schaumburg, Illinois, Patti Kinsella of Chicago, Illinois, Thomas (Dorothy) OShea of Sarasota, Florida, Nancy OShea of Fremont, California, Rosemary (Prendergast) Dorr of Arizona and Owen Predergast of Arizona.
Memorials may be made to St. Vincent DePaul Society or the American Diabetes Association.
A Memorial Mass will be held on Friday, October 30, 2009 at 10:30 A.M. at Corpus Christi Catholic Church in Shiloh and at St. Catherine of Alexandria Catholic Church in Oak Lawn at a later date.
Creason Funeral Home in Millstadt is in charge of arrangements.