Sheila M. Schaefer

Sheila Mary Schaefer, 75 of Greeley, died on January 3, 2009 at the Hospice & Palliative Care of Northern Colorado inpatient unit after a short illness. She was born to Bill and Ethel Reay on March 23, 1933 in London, England where she lived until she married Ron Schaefer in July 1951. Together they had 3 children; Lee, Dale, and Kerry. The family of 5 traveled the world together until 1966 when they settled in Greeley, Colorado where Sheila stayed until her passing. Sheila worked at UNC until her retirement in 1987. She loved gardening, sitting among her flowers and enjoying the colorful fruits of her labor. She was a dedicated matriarch whose heart of gold shone through in the loving care she gave to her children and grandchildren. She often spoke with quiet dignity and lingering sorrow about having survived Hitler’s Germany and the horrors of World War II. Sheila was also a most loving protector of her animals. She kept both cats and dogs in her home and treated them with kindness, gentility and respect. They were her family just the same as any of her kids. Sheila wanted to be remembered with the following words: “Remember me with smiles and laughter. If you can only remember me with tears and sorrow, then don’t remember me at all.” Well, dear Sheila, mother, grandmother, sister, and friend, we will certainly celebrate your life with smiles and soft chuckles over the good times, but we cannot deny our heart’s grief over the loss of one such as you. Godspeed, sweet lady, may you join your beloved mother in heaven and look in on us from time to time. You have been loved and will be missed, greatly. She is survived by a son, Lee Schaefer, daughter, Kerry Anderson, a sister, Eileen Geisick, along with 7 grandchildren and 12 great grandchildren. She is preceded in death by her father, Bill Reay, her mother, Ethel Reay, a son, Dale Schaefer, great granddaughter , Mary Ann Sprinkle and brother-in–law, Wally Geisick. At this time a private service is planned where her ashes will be spread in the same place as her mother’s and great granddaughter’s. Condolences can be sent to : 2916 W. 12th Street, Greeley, Colorado 80631. Contributions can be made in Sheila Schaefer’s name to Hospice & Palliative Care of Northern Colorado in care of Moser Funeral & Cremation Service, 3501 S. 11th Ave., Evans, Colorado 80620, whose support we could not have done without. The staff kept this family informed, comforted and ultimately sane. Our deepest thanks to all of them there.

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Sheila M. Schaefer

March 23, 1933 - January 3, 2009