Sheila G. Duker

Sheila Walker Greer Duker, 84, of East Dennis, Mass, passed peacefully in the comfort of her home on April 26, 2016. She was a most beloved wife, mother, sister in law, aunt, and friend. She is the daughter of Louise Roberts of Liverpool, England, and Henry Kirk Greer of North Adams, Mass. She is predeceased by her parents, and brother John Kirk Greer of Cos Cob, CT. Sheila is survived and mourned by her husband of sixty-two years, William H. Duker, Jr., daughter Dawn Brockunier of Warwick, NY, sons Robert F. of Scottsdale, AZ, William H. (Melissa) of Ventura, CA, Richard W. (Alexia) of Darien, CT, seven grandchildren, two great grandchildren, a devoted niece, six nephews, and several adoring “adoptive” nieces.

Sheila’s parents met representing their respective countries in field hockey games; and when they made their life together in Rye, NY, Sheila (a smashing forward) and her brother continued in the spirited family tradition; then encouraged their own families into the camp. Sheila debuted at the NYC Cotillion, graduated The Rye Country Day School, then Bouve Boston College of Tufts University. Rumor has it she got straight A’s. At Tufts she met Bill from Stafford Springs, CT. He was smitten with her radiant charm, wit, and beauty; and courted her with trombone solos from the bandstand, and affectionate cartoons. They married upon Bill’s return from service in Korea, and raised their family in Rye, NY in Sheila’s childhood home. Sheila was an avid tennis player, wonderful cook, and master of desserts. Their life was fulfilled with sports, music, entertaining, and amazing lifelong cherished friendships. Sheila coached and refereed field hockey and lacrosse for Rye Country Day School, for The School of the Holy Child, and eventually for Rye High School. She later became Director of the Rye United Methodist Nursery School, where she was renowned for her fun manner while still maintaining strict order. Along with her wonderful friends, she devoted her talents for decades to the charitable 26th Twig organization which served the United Hospital.

Bill and Sheila retired to Cape Cod, where the family had vacationed summers since Sheila was a child. Here she committed herself to the East Dennis Ladies Aid organization, holding many terms of office; and to the Friends of Dennis Senior Citizens, where she is a Director Emeritus. She enjoyed her membership in the Paul Revere chapter of the Questers, and also served as a President.

Throughout her life, Sheila’s friendship impacted the many fortunate with delight. She was refreshingly frank and keenly insightful. She was smart, engaging, adventurous, and often naughty. She directed gatherings of young and old into humorous games and instilled joy into these lives through play. A steadfast good sport as a matter of manners and character, she found herself chasing loose pigs on her first visit to meet Bill’s family at their beautiful CT farm; and she unfalteringly applauded good plays by the opposition, whether on the tennis court or even against her Patriots. This sense of fairness and reason extended into her political stances: a lifelong Republican, Sheila advocated pragmatism within ideology. While known and admired for her upstanding character, both the depth and height of this character was truly revealed as the foibles of aging took some toll in the last years and she bore this with the dignity of acceptance, heroic sweetness, and nary a complaint ever. Sheila loved and respected nature, animals, and the bounty of our earth. She understood human place in the greater universe as a unique privilege and an even greater responsibility.

The family asks that no flowers be sent. Please consider honoring Sheila with a donation to Jacob Sears Memorial Library, P.O. Box 782, East Dennis, MA 02641 and to the Visiting Nurse Association Hospice and Palliative Care, through Cape Cod Health Care Foundation, PO Box 370, Hyannis, MA 02601, (support.givetocapecodhealth.org).