The Rev. Sheilagh Ashworth – Our Pastor, Priest and Friend
Sadly, I share with you that at 5:55 am on the morning of June 28th, Sheilagh passed with the sun coming in the windows at Matthews House Hospice, Alliston, gracing her face on a Sunday morning. It was truly the light of God calling her home.
Please pray for Sheilagh’s daughters, Madeleine and Sarah, her siblings Bernie (Angela), Chris, Pat, Brian (Sue), Peter (Vivian), and Genny (Mike), her mother Mary Helen Monette and for all her family. Condolences can be left on Sheilagh’s blog: www.howssheilagh.com.
Rev. Sheilagh was genuine, authentic, and had a natural ability of making everyone she met feel at ease. She gently and compassionately accepted everyone, whether a member of her church or the community at large, and let them know that they were beloved of God. Rev. Sheilagh exuded positivity and had a great sense of humour. She was known for her high fives and cherished children and youth, through her children’s talks during service, summer day camp and many youth retreats. She had a natural ability to teach, participate and lead – in a fun and engaging manner. Rev. Sheilagh fostered a spiritual community and took the initiative to lead by example and encouraged others to join. She loved preaching and applied her passion all the time. This was most evident with the annual Schomberg Country Run, an event that Rev. Sheilagh created as an opportunity to raise funds for clean water initiatives in Pikangikum, as well as her teaching efforts on an Indigenous unit at local grade schools. Her homilies removed barriers and were delivered in an authentic manner that resonated completely with members of her parish and the community at large. She made the world feel a bit brighter and more hopeful, and her smile and sense of wonderment will be sorely missed. We were blessed to have known her and to have loved her.
Sheilagh was ordained Deacon in 1998 and Priest in 1999 in the Anglican Church of Canada. She served as an Assistant Curate at St. Philip on-the-Hill, Unionville, then as an Associate Priest at St. Mary, Richmond Hill, and at Trinity Church, Aurora, and since 2008 has been the Incumbent of the Anglican Parish of Lloydtown: St. Mary Magdalene, Schomberg and Christ Church, Kettleby, and the Anglican Community of the former St. Alban’s, Nobleton. Although an informal title she was the Vicar of Schomberg leading her community in all spiritual events through much of her time there.
The family will be holding a private service later this week. Once the pandemic restrictions are lifted, there will be a public Memorial Service to which everyone will be invited.
Sheilagh requested that donations be made to either St. Mary Magdalene, Schomberg or Christ Church, Kettleby. This can be done by emailing [email protected]. You may also donate to the Toronto Urban Native Ministries at https://sites.google.com/view/tunm/home, Matthews House Hospice in Alliston at https://www.matthewshousehospice.ca/, or a charity of your choice.
In lieu of flowers, the family invites you to send a small arrangement to someone you love.
The family has requested that you do not drop off food, but instead donate food items to the King Township Food Bank or your local food bank. She loved it when someone honked their horn as they drove past the house!
May Sheilagh rest in peace and rise in glory!
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