Jane Ellen (Lally) Sheehan

Jane Ellen Sheehan, born in Dorchester and a beloved resident of Mattapan, passed away peacefully on August 31, 2025. She was 81 years old.

Born to Joseph Lally and Eleanor Gould, Jane was one of five siblings: Joseph Lally (Anne) of Foxboro, Robert Lally of Medford, Eleanor (Lally) Paul (Eugene) of Orlando, Florida, and Gerard Lally of Whitman. Her family roots ran deep, and her love for them even deeper.

Jane was the devoted mother of Jennifer Sheehan of Dorchester, John Sheehan and Keri Sheehan of Clifton Park, New York, Jamie Sheehan and Amanda Sheehan of Dorchester, and Jessica Sheehan Whelan and Jason Whelan of Hanover.

She was the proud grandmother of Andrew, Nora, Fiona, Abby, Aidan, Maggie, Braedyn, Killian, and Brennan—each of whom she adored beyond measure. She also embraced Winona Campbell and Carla Campbell as her adopted daughter and granddaughter, extending her boundless love to all who needed it.

Her trusted four-legged companion, Rosie, was always by her side, and her home was shared with a lively crew of grand-animals: Kitty L’Orange, Charlie, Belle, McCoy, Cocoa, Ginger, and Penny.

Jane’s professional life was marked by service, compassion, and resilience. She served with the Boston Ambulance Squad, Boston College Security, and the Boston Police Department’s Informational Services. She was a First Responder and CPR Instructor at the Police Academy and a founding member of the BPD Peer Support Unit (CISD Team). Her dedication extended to organizations like Mass Citizens for Life and the St. Elizabeth’s SECAP Program.

A lifelong learner, Jane earned both her undergraduate and master’s degrees in Clinical Psychology and Counseling from UMass Boston. She was deeply committed to mental health, recovery, and peer support—living more than 40 years in sobriety, always taking it one day at a time.

Jane’s passions were as varied as they were vibrant. She gardened, crocheted, and played piano and guitar. She claimed to play the banjo, though listeners might lovingly disagree. She studied Gaelic later in life and tackled every project with fearless enthusiasm. She was a voracious reader—especially of British mysteries and Agatha Christie novels—and often said she didn’t just read books, she devoured them. Christmas was her favorite time of year, and in her home, the decorations stayed up year-round—a testament to her joy in bringing people together. Jane was a caregiver, a student, a teacher, and a force of nature. She always put others before herself. Her home was always open to anyone in need of care, comfort, or simply a place to belong.

Her legacy lives on in the lives she touched, the family she cherished, and the love she gave so freely. She will be deeply missed and forever remembered.

She was pretty cool!

Family and friends will honor and remember Jane's life by gathering for a visiting hour in St. Gregory Church, 2223 Dorchester Avenue, Dorchester, on Friday morning, September 5, 2025, at 9:00 A.M. Followed by a Funeral Mass at 10:00 A.M. Interment will be private.

To view Jane's Funeral Mass live streamed, please use the following link: https://youtube.com/live/Y7rM-yjXBT4?feature=share.

Jane’s family would like to invite everyone to join with them to continue to celebrate her life, immediately following her funeral mass from 12:00 noon to 4:00 P.M. at Florian Hall, 55 Hallet Street, Dorchester.

In lieu of flowers, donations in Jane's memory may be made to St. Joseph's Indian School, P.O. Box 326, Chamberlain, SD, 57326, or at www.stjo.org.