Sheila Margaret Kirkwood

Born in Prince Rupert, BC to Thomas and Lilian Kirkwood and sister to Thomas, David, and Charles. Sheila is predeceased by her Parents, Brothers, Tom and David(Evelyn), and Charles (infancy), as also nephew, Gregory.

Sheila is survived by sister-in-law Vera, nephews Ron (Liz), Vin, Kevin(Marcia), Keith(Bill), and nieces Dorothy(Dennis Odian), Kathy(Ron Read) and numerous great-nieces, great-nephews, and great-great nieces & nephews, God Daughters, God Sons, and a whole host of friends especially her good friend and camping buddy Andy Schreck, as also her cruising and travelling friend Gwen Lamacraft.

Sheila spent her early years in Anyox, BC where she had her early education and began to study piano. She played for the Sunday School and occasionally for Church services.

When the family moved to Vancouver Sheila continued in music studying both piano and organ and soon began her lifelong ministry in church music in the Anglican Church. She was sometime organist at St Thomas, Vancouver, St John the Divine, Burnaby, Saint Peter's, Vancouver where she was an integral part of the building of the new church and fund-raising for the small Casavant pipe organ; a fulfillment of a dream for Sheila. After 26 years Sheila took a years sabbatical and was then called to All Saints, Burnaby where she served another 25 years and worked to be sure that they had a great new organ for the worship of God.

Sheila was a sometime rehearsal pianist with the Vancouver Oratorio Society and, after retirement, was a member of the Kerrisdale Music Makers and Brock house Choir.

After graduation from John Oliver High School, Sheila's academic path took her to the Normal School where she graduated with a teaching certificate and later to UBC, earning her Bachelor of Education with a Major in Music. Sheila's entire teaching career was at Florence Nightingale Elementary School in Vancouver where she always said she “never left grade four!”.

Sheila loved travel and spent many a vacation in Britain, Europe & Australia,as also her home-away-from-home, Atlin, BC . She was also very happy travelling and camping with her good friend Ann Walker. While at All Saints she continued these camping adventures with members of the young peoples' group and then with Andy and his mom, Marg.

We wish to thank the staff and caregivers of Royal City Manor, New Westminster where Sheila will always be remembered through her donation to the Manor of her most valued and prized possession, her piano.