Sheilagh Maureen Trantanella

Sheilagh was born August 30, 1940, as Anne Margaret Mullaney in New York City, the daughter of Beatrice (Mullaney) Eidinger of Ballyfarnon, Co. Roscommon, Ireland, and John Owen McGrath of Almonte, Ontario, Canada. She was raised in Stamford by her parents, Thomas and Bertha Coyne, and was a 1958 graduate of Lauralton Hall. After high school, she worked as a secretary for American Machine and Foundry (AMF) before marrying Charles Joseph Trantanella, Jr., in 1964. Together they raised a family in Stamford until the untimely death of Charles in 1987.

In 1986, she became the secretary for North Stamford Congregational Church and then, in 1990, for First United Methodist Church of Stamford, a position she loved and cherished until she retired in 2014. In retirement, she spent her time visiting with her four children and nine grandchildren, and going for walks with her beloved dog, Cookie.

She was a longtime member of St. Leo’s Parish, where she taught CCD at the elementary school level. She was also a volunteer with Meals on Wheels for many years. A lover of history, she was a voracious reader.

Sheilagh is survived by her four children and their partners, Charles and Valerie Trantanella of Westford, MA, Lisa and Cris Colberg of Monroe, CT, Susan and Mark Kivits of Trumbull, CT, Amy Smith and Phil Langkam of Golden, CO, her nine grandchildren, her brother-in-law, Frank Trantanella, and many nieces, nephews, extended cousins, and friends, both in the United States and abroad.

She was predeceased by her husband, Charles Jr., her two brothers, Tommy Coyne and Peter Coyne, her sister-in-law Dorothy Trantanella, her half-sister, Joan Eidinger, and Joan’s husband, Howie Bernstein.

The family would like to extend its deepest gratitude to the staff of Stamford Hospital, Bennett Cancer Center, and Constellation Hospice for their care of Sheilagh and support of her family these past few months. The grace, dignity, and compassion they showed was so appreciated.

In lieu of flowers, donations in Sheilagh’s name can be made to the Stamford Animal Shelter Alliance. She loved animals, especially her dogs.

A visitation will be held on Monday, July 21, 2025 from 4:00 PM to 7:00 PM at Leo P. Gallagher & Son Funeral Home, 2900 Summer St, Stamford, CT 06905. A funeral mass will take place on Tuesday, July 22, 2025 at 10:30 AM at St Leo Parish, 24 Roxbury Rd, Stamford, CT 06902. Interment will immediately follow at Queen of Peace Cemetery, 124 Rock Rimmon Rd, Stamford, CT 06903.