Sheila Dowd

Sheila “Judy” Dowd was a caring daughter, wife, mother, grandmother, sister, and friend. She left this world on February 19, 2025 after having a wonderful life full of family, friendship, love and laughter. She was born to Jimmy and Debbie Branagan on September 11, 1945 in Hackensack, NJ. Both Jimmy, a WW2 veteran, and Debbie had previously emigrated from Ireland and met in America. The family moved to Woodside, Queens shortly after and set down roots. They spent their summers at Camp Dineen in New Paltz, NY where Jimmy worked as a chef. After graduating high school, Sheila worked at The NY Foundling Hospital caring for pediatric patients. She found gold when she met her husband Matthew in 1968 at the Irish dance hall, Finegan’s Rainbow, in Woodside NY. They were married on May 23, 1970 at St. Bartholomew’s Roman Catholic Church in Elmhurst, Queens. They briefly moved to Brooklyn and then to Bayside in 1975 where they remained and raised their son, Matthew, and daughter, Deirdre. While raising her children, Sheila sold Avon and went back to school to become a nurse’s aide. She worked nights at Hillside Manor Rehab and continued her schooling at Queens College. She graduated Magna Cum Laude as an RN in 1988. She went on to have a fulfilling career as a caring, compassionate, and knowledgeable RN. Initially, she worked at Elmhurst Hospital and then switched to home care working for Partners in Care and VNS for twenty plus years until retirement. She loved her St. Bernard and two yorkies. She loved animals in general. She loved to travel, making it a point to go to as many places as possible. She had the biggest smile on her face when she was heading out the door for the next adventure. Sheila, Matt, and their family made frequent trips to Ireland, Europe and throughout the US. She is survived by her loving husband, Matthew Dowd; children Matthew Dowd and Deirdre and her husband Brian McCooey; sister Theresa Rudin; sister-in-law Philomena Gilmore and brother-in-law Michael Gilmore; six grandchildren Aidan, Michael, and Catherine McCooey, Matthew and Abigail Dowd (their mother Cindy Dowd) and Harrison Brown; and also many cousins, nieces and nephews

A visitation for Sheila will be held Wednesday, February 26, 2025 from 3:00 PM to 5:00 PM and 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM at Frederick Funeral Home, 192-15 Northern Boulevard, Flushing, NY 11358. A funeral mass will occur Thursday, February 27, 2025 from 9:45 AM to 10:45 AM at Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament, 34-24 203rd, Auburndale, NY 11361. A committal service will follow at 11:30 AM at Calvary Cemetery, 49-02 Laurel Hill Blvd, Woodside, NY 11377.