Sheila Kelly (nee) O'Brien)

Sheila was a loving wife to Bill and partner in love, song and dance for 42 years. She loved Bill dearly and together they celebrated good times, weathered bad times, navigated cancer challenges and the loss of their son Brendan to suicide. They worked hard and created a warm, loving home full of laughter and fun for Kim, Scott and Brendan. Their talents were known to many - they sang songs, duets, wrote and performed plays on concerts along the Southern Shore. Sheila will forever be remembered by daughter Kim (Mike Maher), Scott (Mary Ann) and grandsons Liam and Cian. Predeceased by husband Bill, son Brendan, parents Charlie and Madonna O’Brien, brothers Charlie and Gussie; sister-in-law Anna O’Brien and brothers-in-law John Walsh, Ronnie Hayden and former sister-in-law Delma O’Brien. Sheila will be remembered by her Uncle Fred (Marg) Perry, siblings Florrie Hayden (Dermie) Aggie Walsh (Philip); Marion (Randy) Sturge, Linda Whelan, Davie (Carol), Stevie (Pam), Walter (Jocelyn), and Rosie (Fred) Meaney, special niece Janelle Drover, God children Coleen Crane and Paula Craik, honorary granddaughter Alyssa Maher Penney and a large circle of nieces and nephews stemming from the O’Brien and Kelly families. Sheila was especially close to brother Stevie and wife Pam who did so much for her over the years – from cooking all of her favorites, hosting her for Sunday dinner, to delivering meals of late by Florrie and Rosie, to daily check-ins since dad’s passing. Aggie offered her a room when she visited Cape Broyle and faithfully called mom nightly. Aggie and Pam were a great help in the final weeks. Sheila remembered Bill every day. Bill was the son of deceased parents Joe and Ann Kelly and grew up with deceased brother Brenden and living siblings Basil (Sally), Maureen (Elroy) Hynes, Pat (Jo-Ann), Dave (Bonnie), Dan (Karen) and Brian (DeeDee). Sheila was a force of nature - never shy to share her thoughts or stand up for her beliefs. Together with Margie Carew she claimed to have helped save the community hall from being sold by the parish. She also claimed to have suggested the name for Our Lady of the Cape Cemetery. She was a warm, loving and supporting mother and nana. Friends of grandsons Liam and Cian know her as a hockey nana who travelled for tournaments and was a vocal and knowledgeable fan. She was affectionately called nana by friends of Liam and Cian. She loved watching them play hockey and also loved watching curling - claiming to be the greatest fan of Team Gushue. She loved Irish-NL music especially the ENNIS Sisters – Maureen, Karen and Teresa - her favorites. She often referred to them as the greatest ambassadors and daughters of NL! A singer and songwriter herself, she loved to hear her songs on VOWR. She was grateful to Ronnie Power who produced, recorded and played instruments on her CD. She was proud to record the original version of Southern Shore Queen written by Gertie (Carew) Cahill. She loved singing in the kitchen, at a party, on a concert or in the Choir. She could write a poem in a few minutes and loved to play bingo and cards. She was grateful to Flo Furlong for all the rides to Bingo and for being such a great friend. She was most thankful to the Bearns girls especially Liz King and Lucy Fowler for all they did for her over the years, for treating her as family and including her in family events. There are not enough words to thank Liz and Lucy for the many acts of kindness shown to mom. Thanks also to Ann Coombs, Janet Tobin and Josephine Coady for the friendships. Thanks to card buddies in St. John’s, at Alderwood and Rummoli buddies Daphne, Jill, Mary, Madonna, Janet and Martin. Much gratitude to management and staff at Alderwood especially nurse Kim Chow for the excellent care and liaising with providers of care especially Community Health Nurse Nicole Power, Candace (Community Para Medicine Program), Dr. Dennis O’Keefe and Palliative Care team. Gratitude must also go to Recreation Director Renee Houlihan for making mom’s stay at Alderwood such fun and making her feel so special. At Alderwood she received stellar care and made so many new friends - we cannot imagine a better place for mom to have spent her final months. Thanks to all who visited, called, and messaged in final weeks/75th birthday especially musicians Ronnie and Sheilagh Harvey and Noel Battcock - you all made this final celebration so special! Finally thanks to Fr. Joe Mroz for the visits and blessings. As per her request, cremation has taken place.

Visitation will take place at Ryan’s Funeral Home, Bay Bulls on Friday, December 16th, 2022 from 2pm – 9pm. Funeral mass will take place at Immaculate Conception RC Church, Cape Broyle on Saturday, December 17th, 2022 at 11am. Inurnment to follow at Our Lady of the Cape RC Cemetery, Cape Broyle.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to: Brendan Kelly Memorial Award online at: https://www.mun.ca/give/Donate.php (Designation: Brendan Kelly Memorial Award) or send a cheque payable to Memorial University of Newfoundland (noting the Brendan Kelly Memorial Award in Memo section), Office of Development, Memorial University, P.O. Box 4200, St. John's, NL A1C 5S7; OR Ruah Counselling Centre: online at https://ruahcounselling.ca/ruah-donation/, e-transfer to [email protected] (password ‘Ruah‘) or send a cheque payable to Ruah Counselling Centre, 35 Barnes Road, St. John’s, NL A1C 3X1; OR Cape Broyle: Cemetery Committee, Community Centre or Church OR an act of kindness in her memory for individual or family in need.

“Now the last song has been sung and the last story’s been said
Now that the parting has come, here’s to us meeting again
So we will sing to our friends old and new safe journey till we meet again and until then we will remember you” - ENNIS Sisters

SERVICES

Visitation

Friday, December 16, 2022
2:00 PM - 9:00 PM

Ryan's Funeral Home
1 Cemetery Lane East
Bay Bulls,

Funeral Service

Saturday, December 17, 2022
11:00 AM

Immaculate Conception RC Church
Harbour Road
Cape Broyle,

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