Obituary of Priscilla Ann McShea

Priscilla Ann McShea, 73, of Boalsburg, passed away unexpectedly on Monday, April 17, 2023. She was at home on the family farm with her husband.

Born on Friday, October 14, 1949, in Bellefonte, PA, to Ralph Reish and Pearl Gorman, Priscilla grew up and spent most of her life on the farm, leaving and returning many times. She graduated from State College Area High School in 1967 and married her high school sweetheart, Gary T. Roan, who tragically preceded her in death on February 14, 1981. She was also preceded in death by her father Ralph (May 19, 1969) and mother Pearl (January 20, 1987). Priscilla was convinced her late mother returned as a cardinal to watch over her.

With Gary, Priscilla welcomed her first son, Erik R. McShea of Boalsburg, on February 26, 1978, who survives her with wife Cara, and three grandchildren: Michael, Mara Jade, and Kaitlyn.

Priscilla grew weary of danger. After marrying her second husband, J. Garry McShea, in 1983, she asked that he sacrifice his passion for flying small aircraft, which he did. They welcomed daughter Alicia Summer McShea of St. Petersburg, Florida, on July 27, 1984, who survives her, and son John Patrick McShea of Boalsburg, on February 12, 1987, who survives her with wife Leah Poole Osowski.

Priscilla is also survived by two sisters, Henrietta Else and her husband, Bob, of Cheshire, CT and Harriet Reigel of Dalton, GA.

Immobilized later in life by her health, Priscilla's children instructed her to continue experiencing life, which she did by admiring vibrant sunsets, large moons, and wildlife around the farm. Lately she had been intrigued by coyote visits.

Priscilla loved reading, knitting, coloring, puzzling, and feeling the sun. She loved sitting on her porch and observing the farm, the birds, and the wind. She was creative and imbued her children with inspiration and wonder. She loved watching movies with her grandchildren and attending sporting events. Recently, she watched every play of her granddaughters' softball games via her phone.

Earlier in life, Priscilla enjoyed traveling the United States by RV and socializing on the farm and around town. She loved summers in Sea Isle City, New Jersey. She overdid holidays and birthdays and demonstrated incredible love through doting and spoiling. Her greatest passion was learning about those of her children.

A licensed beautician, she co-owned Alice and Don's Hairdressing in downtown State College and then retired to raise her family. She then volunteered in the school system to keep her children close, eventually gaining employment before officially retiring in 2016. She cherished the connections she made in the counseling office.

In recent years Priscilla abandoned many of her solitary hobbies, but joyously anticipated a coming fourth grandchild, the first by her youngest son. Her family was heartened to find a new knitting pattern for baby booties in her belongings.

Sitting on her porch with family on Easter Sunday, she learned the call of a visiting eastern phoebe. The following Sunday, one day before her passing, again sitting with family, she happily heard the phoebe and called it "one busy bird." She was also eager to point out a white flower emerging in the middle of her lawn—a garden star-of-Bethlehem. She wondered aloud how it got there.

Visitation will be on Sunday, April 23, from 1:00–4:00 p.m. at Koch Funeral Home, 2401 S. Atherton St., State College.

A Memorial Service will be held on Monday, April 24, at 11:00 a.m. at Koch Funeral Home. Burial will follow.

Memorial donations may be made to Grace Lutheran Church  https://www.glcpa.org/give and the American Heart Association https://www.heart.org/.

Online condolences may be made at www.kochfuneralhome.com.