Sheila Alice Walroth (nee McGonigle) passed away peacefully on May 6, 2021 at Pilgrims Hospice in Edmonton, AB surrounded by her loving family after a hard fought battle with pancreatic cancer. She was preceded in death by her husband Gary and is survived by her 10 siblings, 3 children: Charmaine (Jason), Cheryl (Jonathan) & Michael (Fawn) and 7 grandchildren: Peyton, Marcus, Finn, Sarah, Julia, Rowan & Zephyr as well as many nieces, nephews, in-laws, cousins and friends.
Sheila was born in Unity, Saskatchewan on May 27, 1947 to Clarence and Rose McGonigle. She was the third child of eleven children – five girls and six boys. Later that same year the family moved to Turner Valley, Alberta and in 1950 they settled in Cochrane. She grew up on a large acreage with lots of chores – feeding chickens, pigs, cows, horses and even a goat. There was still lots of time for swimming in the creek and playing with her siblings and neighbours. Sheila was active in community youth groups and local sports, particularly basketball. During her school years she made many friends with other students and some teachers who she remained in touch with all her life.
She graduated from Holy Cross Hospital as a Registered Nurse with an additional set of lifelong friends.
After one year of working at the Holy Cross Hospital, one of these friends convinced her to go to Toronto to continue her nursing career.
She eventually moved back to Alberta to marry Gary and start their family in Calgary. In 1977 they moved to Kelowna after falling in love with the Okanagan on their honeymoon. They raised their three children in Joe Rich on 6 acres where Sheila was a volunteer on the fire dept and continued to work as a nurse in family practice.
Sheila will be remembered for her selfless nature and her love for her family and friends. She survived breast cancer 18 years ago and proceeded to start hiking, canoeing and traveling as much as she could. She lived life to the fullest, was a great listener and was always up for a card game or a long walk. She will be missed by everyone who was fortunate enough to be in her life.
“I am standing upon the seashore. A ship at my side spreads her white sails to the morning breeze and starts for the blue ocean. She is an object of beauty and strength, and I stand and watch until at last she hangs like a speck of white cloud just where the sun and sky come down to mingle with each other. Then someone at my side says, “There she goes!” Gone Where? Gone from my sight – that is all. She is just as large in mast and hull and spar as she was when she left my side and just as able to bear her load of living freight to the places of destination. Her diminished size is in me, not in her. And just at the moment when someone at my side says, “There she goes!” There are other eyes watching her coming and other voices ready to take up the glad shout, “Here she comes!”
Serenity Funeral Service – South Edmonton (780)450-0101
Nos plus sincères sympathies à la famille et aux amis de WALROTH Sheila Alice May 6 2021..
Décès pour la Ville: Edmonton, Province: Alberta