Sheila J. Browitt

Sheila J. Browitt, 72, a longtime teacher whose culinary talents were widely acknowledged and appreciated, died October 29, 2013, following a brief illness. Sheila passed at her Lake Stevens, Wash., home with her husband and family at her side. A funeral Mass will be held Saturday, November 9 at 11 a.m. at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, in Roslyn, Wash. A rosary will be recited on Friday, November 8, 7 p.m. at the same church. Sheila Joy Starkovich was born January 19, 1941, in Roslyn, the only child of John and Frances (Gasper) Starkovich. She attended the Roslyn School until the family relocated to West Seattle, and graduated from Chief Sealth High School in 1959. Sheila graduated from Central Washington State College in 1963, and began her teaching career later that year at Wenatchee High School. But before embarking on what would ultimately be a 30-year vocation, she entered into a commitment that would last even longer, marrying Edward Browitt on June 29. While teaching at Wenatchee and later at Cle Elum High School, Sheila supported Edward while he completed his degree in education. The two taught together briefly in Carnation, Wash., then moved on to Lake Stevens where they spent the remainder of their respective teaching careers. The bulk of Sheila's career was dedicated to home economics; she taught that subject for 25 years at Lake Stevens Middle School, from which she retired in 1993. Following retirement, Sheila put her food-preparation skills to use in catering ventures, for Sno-Isle Natural Foods Co-Op in Everett and, much to the delight of friends and family, in her own kitchen. Her passion for cooking was embodied in lavish Christmas meals prepared for the Browitt clan, and in vibrant steelhead dinner parties enjoyed by Edward's fishing buddies as well as their teaching colleagues. Sheila was fond of travel; she and Edward visited various European destinations and had a particular interest in World War II history. She was involved in various activities and was dedicated to the Euthenics Club, which provided scholarships for home-economics students. She was a parishioner at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic Church in Everett. Sheila is survived by her husband, Edward, who extends his gratitude to family members for their assistance during Sheila's illness, including a special thanks to cousin, Frances Klepach. Memorials may be made to the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center in Seattle and Group Health Hospice of Snohomish and east King counties