Studebaker, Sheila Marie (nee Cortes) 1969 – 2021
It is with broken hearts that the family of Sheila announce her passing on Saturday, October 30, 2021 at the Niagara General Hospital.
Sheila passed away with her loving husband by her side after a 14 month aggressive battle with pancreatic cancer at the age of 52.
Sheila and Steve just celebrated 29 years of marriage September 5. They were the love of their lives. Steve will cherish her in his heart for long as his life endures on this earth and embrace her in his arms again in the world to come. Sheila was a proud and devoted mom to their children Gabrielle (she “loved you to infinity and beyond”) and Maxwell (she “loved you the mostest”).
Cherished daughter of P. William Cortes (and his partner Barbara Tostrup) and the late Judy Nash Fritzell. Much loved sibling of Robin Davis (and husband Gary Davis) and brother Timmy Cortes (and wife Kathy Cortes) and her predeceased brother Mike Cortes.
Sheila also leaves behind her niece and nephew Katie and Alex Larkin, the children of her sister Robin Davis and their father Mike Larkin; niece and nephew Maddy and Nick Cortes, her bother Timmy and Kathy’s kids; niece and nephew Kaia and Cade Cortes, the children of her brother Mike and their mom Stacie Schaible; her grandniece Indigo (“Indy”), daughter of Alex and Rachel Larkin; and her aunt Linda and (and her partner Barb Parker).
She also would want to recognize Max and Gabby’s cousins, Flynn and Mackenzie the children of her sister- and brother-in-law Cindy and Tom Lohrs and Steve’s parents, Mike and Margaret Studebaker. Sheila loved her family more than her heart could contain. She mourned that she would miss seeing and being a part of their lives.
Sheila’s career spanned 27 years in commercial banking. She worked in banks from Seattle, Washington and Chicago, Illinois to Athens, Georgia, and Rochester and Buffalo, New York. The past seven years she managed a commercial Asset Recovery Team for the Northeast Region. She loved her work and the people on her team—Tatia Gagnon, Melissa Fisher, Peter Safran, Brian Majerski, Vince Harper, Tim Hallas—and her other colleagues—Jane Clausius, Leslie Jones, Rudy Napodano, Mark Kleinhaut, Carla Laning, Dale Clayton, and Michael O’Brien.
She enjoyed her family. Her hobby was being involved in the life of her kids. Travelling to swim meets across Upstate New York, swimming tournaments in Washington DC, Florida, and all parts in between, trudging through Disney World numerous times and other theme parks, taking the train to New York City for a weekend seeing the sites and going to the Lion King with Max, and getting up early and making the kids bacon and eggs or French Toast for breakfast, she did all this and more with a joyful spirit because she loved being a mom and being with her kids and creating memories with them.
Sheila and Steve met at Northwest University in Kirkland, WA. They married September 5, 1992. Their life was a series of adventures that took them from the Seattle area to the Iron Range of Northern Minnesota where Sheila worked in a home for people with physical and mental disabilities and Steve was youth pastor. Next stop was Chicago and Kenosha Wisconsin where Sheila resumed her banking career at some of the big commercial banks in Chicago and Steve completed graduate studies in theology at Marquette University. From there, life took them to Athens, Georgia, Rochester, NY, and finally to Fonthill, ON during which Sheila rose in her career as a commercial banker and Steve in his career as a professor of theology.
In keeping with Sheila’s wishes cremation has taken place. The memorial service to honour the life of Sheila will take place at the Pelham Community Church, 461 Canboro Road, Fenwick on 5 day, November 2021 beginning at 2:00pm receiving by family and 3:00pm Celebration of Life service. Masks and social distancing is required.
Joint interment will take place this spring in Duluth Minnesota where Sheila was born with the remains of her oldest brother Mike and her mother Judy.
Online condolences may be shared at www.pelhamfuneralhome.ca
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Our most sincere sympathies to the family and friends of Sheila Marie Studebaker Saturday October 30th 2021..
Death notice for the town of: FONTHILL, Province: Ontario