Sheila Corbett

Sheila Mary Corbett, a long-time resident of St. Patrick’s Home of Ottawa, passed away peacefully at the Ottawa General Hospital on April 28, 2017 after a brief illness. She was 91. Originally from Guelph, Sheila was predeceased by her mother Eileen, father Patrick, and sister Kathleen. She will be fondly remembered and kept in the prayers of her brother Neil and his wife Eileen, their children Mary (Steve Scully), Pat, Maureen, Tim, Kevin, and Jennifer, and their grandchildren William, Conor, and Moira; her brother George; her aunt Eleanor and cousins Wayne and Victor Sleeman; her cousins Patrick, Mary, and Kathleen McDonagh; her treasured lifelong friend Mary Fitton; and her special caregivers and friends Jane Algire and Eileen Whiteley.

In her youth, Sheila was a member of the Church of Our Lady Immaculate, attended St. Stanislaus School, and graduated from the Loretto Academy in Guelph. As a young woman, she took flying lessons at the Guelph Airpark then completed her flight training and obtained a private pilot licence while working in Edmonton in 1953. With her cousin Mike McDonagh of Vancouver as her navigator, she piloted a Luscombe light aircraft 2,200 miles from Edmonton to Guelph over three days. When she moved to Ottawa, she worked for Spartan Air Services and later joined the civil service, eventually retiring from Energy, Mines and Resources Canada as a cartographic draftsman who oversaw the development of aeronautical charts and flight information publications for pilots.

A devout Catholic, Sheila belonged to St. Anthony of Padua Church and also attended St. Patrick’s Cathedral in Ottawa. She volunteered with the Legion of Mary, was involved with the Dalhousie Community Association, and gave generously to many charitable organizations. Sheila always greeted people with a big smile and always spoke of others in the kindest terms.

Sheila’s family is very grateful to the St. Patrick’s staff, especially the Cavan House nurses, personal support workers, and volunteers, for their skill and compassion in providing a wonderful home for Sheila since 2008.

Visitation will take place at the Gilbert MacIntyre & Son Funeral Home, 252 Dublin St. N., Guelph from 9:00 a.m. to 9:30 am on Wednesday May 3, 2017, followed by a funeral Mass at the Basilica of Our Lady Immaculate, 28 Norfolk St., Guelph at 10:00 a.m. and burial at Marymount Cemetery. Guests are welcome for a reception at the Gilbert MacIntyre and Son Funeral Home following the Mass and burial.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to St. Patrick’s Home of Ottawa or the Basilica of Our Lady Immaculate. Donation cards are available at the funeral home or send condolences at www.gilbertmacintyreandson.com

A Funeral Mass will take place at the Basilica of Our Lady 28 Norfolk St., Guelph, on Wednesday, May 3, 2017 at 10 a.m. Interment at Marymount Cemetery, Guelph.