Joan F Shay

Joan Florence Shay (nee Rieman)
October 11, 1933 – November 7, 2025

Joan Florence Shay, beloved wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister, aunt, and friend, passed away peacefully on November 7, 2025, at the age of 92.

Born on October 11, 1933, in Cincinnati, Ohio, Joan was a lifelong Reds fan who had a deep love for her family, her neighbors, and the simple joys of life... especially cross stitch, sunshine, and seashells. She was married to the love of her life, Clair “Boots” Shay, for nearly 50 years. Together, they made their home in North College Hill and later spent two decades enjoying retirement in Southwest Florida, where they loved fishing, soaking up the sun, and searching for shells along the beaches of Sanibel, Fort Myers, and Naples... always perfecting their “Sanibel Stoop.” Eventually, they returned to Cincinnati to be closer to family.

Joan was mother of four children: Sherry, Terry (David), Steven (Joan J.), and Patrick (Cecelia). She was the proud grandmother of 11 grandchildren and great-grandmother to many more.

Joan’s legacy lives on through the family she raised, the memories she made, and the stories that will be told for years to come.

A Catholic Funeral Mass will be held on Wednesday, November 12, 2025, at 10:30 a.m. at Saint James the Greater Catholic Church in Cincinnati, Ohio. Services will be handled by Frederick Funeral Home. Joan will be laid to rest at Saint James the Greater Church cemetery.

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