Sheila DeLaura

Sheila (Thornton) DeLaura, age 69, of East Hartford, has peacefully entered into eternal life with her loving husband of 51 years, Ernest J. DeLuara, by her side. Born in Camp Lejeune, NC on November 18, 1953, a daughter of the late Thomas A. and Elmire (Oursso) Thornton. Sheila was a graduate of Torrington High School class of 1971. Prior to her retirement, Sheila was an Office Manager at Parker X-Ray CO, East Hartford.

A devout Catholic, Sheila was a faithful communicant of St. Christopher Church where she taught catechism for 15 years, was a Eucharistic minister, and was on the parish council. In her free time, Sheila enjoyed horseback riding, playing cards, board games, and painting butterflies and dragonflies. Sheila was an avid fan of the New York Yankees and the New York Giants. Above all, she enjoyed traveling with her husband Ernie going on several cruises and traveling to different dude ranches.

Along with her husband, Sheila is survived by her two daughters; Angela Dement and husband Thomas of Christiansburg, VA, and Catherine Woodbury and husband Brian of Beverly, MA; her three grandchildren; Kelly Woodbury, Thomas Dement III, and Kyle P. Woodbury; her two sisters; Caroline Lhamen of Paw Paw, Michigan and Patricia Spurill of Southington, CT; step brother Randy Thornton of Clifton, CO; brother-in-law William DeLaura of Florida, and several aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces, nephews, and dear friends.

A Mass of Christian Burial celebrating Sheila’s life will be held Wednesday, March 22, 2023, at 11:00 am at St. Christopher Church of St. Edmund Campion Parish, 538 Brewer St. East Hartford, CT. Sheila’s family will receive relatives and friends prior to the mass from 9:30-10:30 am at the D’Esopo East Hartford Memorial Chapel, 30 Carter St. East Hartford, CT. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in Sheila’s name may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105. For on-line expressions of sympathy to the family, please visit www.desopoeh.com.