Sheila Marie Dennis
Lieu de naissance : Sydney Mines, Nouvelle Ecosse
Date de naissance : 16 mai 1942
Date de décès : 24 mai 2017
We, the children of Sheila Marie Dennis, sadly announce the passing of our wonderful mother on May 24, 2017 at the Cape Breton Regional Hospital. She had just celebrated her 75th birthday on May 16 surrounded by her family.
She was born in Sydney Mines, to the late Cecil Charles and Mary Catherine (MacNeil) Halliday. Sheila was a member of the Holy Family Parish, Sydney Mines.
Mom was educated in Sydney Mines and at the Normal College in Truro. She started her teaching career at the young age of 17 in George’s River School. After teaching for a number of years, she left to raise her children. She returned to the workforce as the Director of the Kinsmen Daycare Centre, retiring in 2007. Throughout her career as a teacher and as a child care provider, she taught and/or cared for generations of families.
Mom loved to camp, whether it was as a young girl with her parents and siblings in New Campbellton in an old army tent; or on trips with her own family to PEI with the tent trailer and the Add-A-Room tent; or on the shores of Middle River in 1957 Chev the truck/camper; or camping in a tent in Driftwood Campground during a thunder storm with the lightning lighting up the tent; or to the hills of Boisdale at Uncle Frank’s cabin, at all times surrounded by family and friends.
Mom’s involvement in various service organizations and charities brought joy, friendship, and fulfilment, including the Kinette Club of Sydney Mines, the Sydney Mines Food Bank, and the St. Joseph/St. Mary Cemetery Society.
Mom loved her crafts; whether she was knitting a sweater, socks, mittens, or a dishcloth, knitting needles or crochet hooks were not far away. Each of us received many pieces of her work. Over time, her brothers away each received a crocheted Cape Breton tartan afghan. From knitting, crocheting, ceramics, quilting, Swedish weaving, loom weaving or rug hooking, Mom did it all. We’ve all heard stories of the “Knotty Nannies” and the “Hookers”.
Mom is survived by sons, Jim Jr. (Linda), Charlottetown and Darren (Connie), Hammonds Plains; daughter, Terri, at home, and grandson, Darren Alexander, Charlottetown. Also left to mourn are her brothers, Colin Francis (Rose), St. Catharines/Boisdale, John William (Fern), St. Catharines, Robert Laird (Amy) Creignish, and sisters, Beverly Jessome, Georges River, Valerie (Frank) MacPhee, Rexton, Catherine (Greg) Ahle, St. Catharines, Brenda (Bill) Livingstone, Georges River and Donalda Andrews (John Winstanley), Sydney Mines. She is also survived by sisters-in-law, Dorothy (Dot) Halliday, (Willmington, Mass.), Anne Halliday, Halifax, Helen (Paul) Kolomayz, Mississauga, Jane Dennis (Red Deer), and brothers-in-law, Bill (Joyce) Dennis, Sydney Mines and Joe (Allison) Dennis, Newfoundland. As well, Mom is survived by a multitude of extended family who brought joy to her life.
Besides her parents, Sheila was predeceased by brothers, Daniel Bruno and Cecil Charles (in infancy); a son, Daniel (in childbirth); brothers-in-law, Raymond Jessome and Bob Dennis, and her children’s father, Jim Sr.
Visitation for Sheila Dennis will be held on Friday, May 26, 2017, from 4-8 p.m. in J.M. Jobes Funeral Home, 635 Main St., Sydney Mines. A celebration of her life will take place Saturday at 1 p.m. in Holy Family Church, Sydney Mines, with Fr. Jim Oliver officiating. A reception will take place in the parish hall, following the service.
Donations in Sheila’s memory may be made to the Sydney Mines Food Bank or the St. Joseph/St. Mary Cemetery Society. Donation cards for these charities will be available at the visitation. Expressions of sympathy may be forwarded to her family at www.jmjobesfuneralhome.com.
To all the medical staff that journeyed with Mom during her illness, thank you for what you do, and thank you for doing it in Cape Breton.
