Who is Lorene Shea? ‘RHOBH’ star Kyle Richards gets emotional remembering ‘longtime best friend’s tragic suicide ahead of new episode
BEVERLY HILLS, CALIFORNIA: Lorene Shea, though not a public figure, gained prominence posthumously as the childhood friend of 'RHOBH' star Kyle Richards. Despite leading a discreet life, her unexpected demise thrust her into the spotlight, deeply impacting Kyle, who affectionately referred to her as her "other half."
Lorene maintained a low profile, and little information was available about her personal and professional life.
While she made a brief appearance on 'RHOBH' as a friend of Kyle's, details about her remained private, and her life and background stayed largely out of the public eye. This secrecy added to the mystery surrounding her.
However, Kyle has openly struggled with her loss over the past few years, finding it challenging to come to terms with the passing of her dear friend.
The 'Real Housewives of Beverly Hills' star recently wrote an emotional post in memory of her late friend Shea, urging fans to tune in for the upcoming episode of 'RHOBH.'
The episode serves as a celebration of Lorene's life and stands as a heartfelt tribute to Kyle's dear friend.
"Tonight's RHOBH is very important to me. It's a celebration of life that honors my best friend Lorene Shea who we lost to suicide. Thank you to
@namicommunicate for helping me navigate through this," Kyle captioned the post along with sharing a series of images with Lorene.
"If you or someone you know is struggling you're not alone For immediate 24/7 crisis support call or text 988," she added in her caption.
Who was Lorene Shea married to?
Lorene Shea's partner is identified as James Shea, presumed to be her husband. Limited information is available about James, including details about his occupation. However, Lorene gained recognition due to her close friendship with Kyle Richards.
While there is no specific information about whether Lorene and James had children together, it has been mentioned that they shared a family with two children.
How did Kyle Richards and Lorene Shea meet?
Kyle shared a heartfelt tribute to her late friend Lorene Shea, revealing that they met in second grade and had been best friends ever since.
In a confessional on 'The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills,' Kyle expressed the deep connection they shared, describing Lorene as her "other half."
Despite physical differences, they often joked about being separated at birth. Kyle emphasized the profound impact Lorene had on her life, being the most important person outside of her family.
She emphasized the depth of their friendship, pointing out that Lorene knew more about her than anyone, even more than her estranged husband, Mauricio Umansky.
Why did Lorene Shea take her life?
In May 2022, Lorene Shea tragically died by suicide after battling depression. Following her passing, Kyle Richards took to social media to mourn her friend's death and draw attention to the challenges in accessing mental health services.
Kyle expressed that despite their best efforts and the support of those who loved Lorene, the system made it impossible to get her the help she needed.
In the December 13, 2023 episode, Kyle emotionally remembered Lorene as "the most important person" in her life outside her family.
