Sr. Shelia Kelly, RGS

SHEILA KELLY

Sr. Sheila Kelly (aka Eileen Kelly), a Sister of the Good Shepherd for 69 years, went home to God peacefully in her home at Cabrini of Westchester on Sunday, October 5th, surrounded by Sisters, friends and family.

A native Brooklynite, Sheila was first generation Irish, and her home was filled with Irish music and tales of “the old country”. She nurtured those roots every March 17th, viewing the St. Patrick’s Dayparade from the 5th Avenue grandstand with her dad and later marching up 5th Avenue with either the AOH or one of the counties, most notably Tyrone or Monaghan, the birthplace of her parents.

Sheila had worked at a bank on Wall Street before she felt the call to religious life and was introduced to the Good Shepherd Sisters through a friend of friend. More than just the “friend of a friend”, he was the brother of one of the Sisters, so well familiar with the Congregation.

Sheila’s zeal and love for the mission was evident in her many positions of leadership – as group mother at Good Shepherd residential programs in Albany and Peekskill, supervisor of the house parents at the Good Shepherd group home in the Bronx, on the Province Leadership Team, first as Councilor and then Province Leader, and Family Activity Supervisor at Good Shepherd Services Foster Care program.

Sheila exuded a spirit of welcome and understanding to all in her care and was especially attentive to our older Sisters. She was also quick to send cards to anyone celebrating an event or just in need of a cheerful note. A true daughter of St. Mary Euphrasia, Sheila “loved with all the strength of her soul”.

Growing up a loyal Brooklyn Dodgers fan, Sheila mourned their move to LA but, years later, happily switched her allegiance and became an avid Mets fan. Halloween held a special charm for Sheila; not only would she dress in costume at home to celebrate with the other sisters but then she would go out visiting friends. Sheila’s real goal was always to bring a smile to others! She embraced all that life offered with a great sense of humor, grace, deep faith, and love of family, friends and her Good Shepherd vocation.

Even after her retirement, Sheila stayed engaged in ministry. She entered the chaplaincy program and volunteered at Calvary Hospital in the Bronx as well as Hudson Valley Hospital. She also served for 3 years at St Patrick’s in Yorktown, NY, overseeing the parish home bound program.

For many years, Sheila made her home in Peekskill, NY with the Franciscan Sisters but graciously moved to Cabrini of Westchester in Dobbs Ferry when she needed more care. Sheila will be remembered for her skills, of course, but more importantly for her compassion, understanding and the many ways she loved with the Great Heart of God.

She is survived by her loving sisters Una Fitzpatrick (Paul), Sheila O’Keefe (Kevin), and Kathleen Byrnes, her brother Edward Kelly (Cathy) and a legion of nieces and nephews. She is predeceased by her parents Mary and Hugh, sister Joan Downey, and brothers-in-law Larry Byrnes and John Downey.

Her wake will be held on Wednesday, October 8th, from 3:00 PM to 7:00 PM at Dorsey-Carlone Funeral Home (1100 Cortlandt St, Peekskill, NY 10566) and Mass will be held on Thursday, October 9th, at 10:00 AM at Villa St. Francis (250 South St, Peekskill, NY 10566). Both locations are wheelchair accessible.

Burial will follow the Mass on Thursday, October 9th, at the Sisters of the Good Shepherd burial site, located at Mount Saint Florence Cemetery. To get there, input ‘Chapel Hill Drive, Peekskill, NY 10566’ into Google Maps (it’s right off Maple Avenue). Look for the tall hedges on the right side of the road; the cemetery gate is in the middle of the hedges.