Obituary of Jeanne Marie Shanahan

     Jeanne Marie Shanahan, 68, of Hoboken, New Jersey, passed away surrounded by family and friends in her home on Wednesday May 21, 2025 after a courageous battle with cancer. Jeanne was born on July 24, 1956 to the late William Shanahan and Dolores Yoerg in Queens, New York. She attended C. W. Post of Long Island University, where she earned her Bachelor’s degree in Marketing. Later, she obtained a Master’s degree in Special Education from New York University. Jeanne loved living in New York City and wholeheartedly embraced the culture and art that the city offers. She loved to visit with friends all around the city and enjoyed seeing shows on Broadway, watching films, attending art exhibitions, and seeing live music. A social butterfly, Jeanne loved to meet new people and acted as a “second mom” to many of the people in her life. She touched the lives of countless people and was a bright light in any room she entered. She will be dearly missed. Jeanne was a member of The Church of St. Luke in the Fields and devoted much of her time to volunteer work. She organized and volunteered at many benefit events to help the LGBTQ community during the AIDS crisis in the 1990s. A woman of many interests and talents, Jeanne worked in several career fields and took on many projects throughout her life. She worked as a marketing director, teacher, filmmaker, and was the president of the Juvenile Bipolar Research Foundation, raising millions of dollars for that organization. She was also passionate about photography, volunteer work, and rescuing many beloved animals. Jeanne was a lifelong traveler. She had special connections to the town of Cooraclare, Ireland, Amagansett, New York, and Paris, France. Jeanne’s primary passion in her life was raising her two children. Her sons were her greatest pride. She loved spending time with them and watching them grow. Jeanne’s loved ones will remember her for her kindness, generosity, loving personality, quick-witted humor, and love for fashion, especially her signature pink lipstick. Jeanne is preceded in death by her parents, aunt Patricia Shanahan, and aunt Rose O’Shea.

     She is survived by her sons Connor Langer and Christopher (fiancée Anamarie Cirigliano) Langer, brother William Shanahan Jr., dearest friend Kurt Langer, sister-cousin Colleen (David) Clarke, stepfather Francis O’Shea, and many family members and friends, all of whom will cherish her memory. Jeanne will be honored with a private service at the McCorry Brothers Funeral Home in Cliffside Park, New Jersey. A celebration of life will be held for family, friends, and all of those who loved Jeanne at a later date at The Church of St. Luke in the Fields. In lieu of flowers, Jeanne’s family asks that friends and family donate to one of her favorite charities: The Jane Goodall Institute or North Shore Animal League.