Kathleen Shanahan Turgeon Aug. 2, 1920 - July 30, 2010

Born Aug., 2, 1920, in Los Angeles and died July 30, 2010, three days short of her 90th birthday, at her home in Corona del Mar. Kathleen Shanahan Turgeon was the youngest of five children of Dr. Edmond Shanahan, a native of Ireland, and Agnes Cavanaugh, whose parents also came from Ireland. After graduation from Hollywood High School in 1938, she attended Rosary/Dominican College in River Forest, Ill., where her aunt was a member of the faculty and the order. From there, she went to her father’s alma mater, Creighton University Medical School, where she was one of two women in her class. In her first year, she met the love of her life and future husband, Leo V. Turgeon Jr., over their assigned cadaver. Leo, a resident of Kansas, a 1942 graduate of Notre Dame, and eventually an honorary member of their Monogram Club, became an ENT specialist and practiced in Los Angeles. Kathleen and Leo were married in the Log Chapel at Notre Dame in 1944. After Kathleen’s internship at St. Vincent’s Hospital in Los Angeles, she became a school physician for the Los Angeles Unified School District where she worked for 41 years. She continued working as a part-time consultant after leaving her full-time position in 1989. She enjoyed traveling the world and finally retired with Leo to Corona del Mar, in 1994.

She is preceded in death by her husband of 55 years, Leo, and her three brothers, Edmond, John and James Shanahan. She is survived by her children Laurie Olson, Mimi Turgeon, Leo Turgeon, Steve (Jean) Turgeon and Paul (Debbie) Turgeon; grandchildren, Erica and Matt (Shelley) Olson, Hannah, Riley, Max, and Ella Turgeon; great-grandchildren Adam and Reid Olson; and sister Maureen Hallett.

Funeral mass will be at 10 a.m. Aug. 4, 2010, at Our Lady Queen of Angels, 2046 Mar Vista Drive, Newport Beach. A reception will follow in the parish hall. In lieu of flowers a donation can be made in Kathleen’s name to Garden of Angels, P.O. Box 1776, Yucaipa, CA 92399.