September 20, 2023

In loving memory ~

Sheila Kelsey's full life of 98 years came to a peaceful end on September 20. Her devoted husband of 70 years, Denham, was at her side the last days of her life.

Sheila was survived by Denham, her daughter, Anne, her son, Chris, their spouses, Alan and Susan, 10 grandchildren, one great-grandson and close relatives in England. Her brothers, John and Stuart, predeceased her.

Sheila was born in Beckenham near London and had her schooling in England and later in Scotland where she excelled at the study of art. Her family home was destroyed by a flying bomb in the German blitz.

Sheila trained as a physiotherapist at St. Thomas' Hospital, London, surviving the heavy bombing of the buildings there. On D-Day she was stationed in a hospital on the south coast of England working with other medical staff treating and easing the suffering of wounded soldiers just brought back from the beaches of Normandy. She later worked for Dr. "Jimmy" Cyriax, the father of modern orthopaedic medicine, in his private practice in London.

Sheila emigrated to Canada in 1950 and embraced life in Vancouver. She married Denham in 1953. She had a wide variety of interests and passions, including digital photography, sailing and cruising, art collecting, writing, music, volunteering, dogs, raising chickens, gardening, breeding tropical fish and generally appreciating and studying other wonders of the natural world. Salmon fishing excited her.

After Denham's retirement, they moved from Vancouver to Thetis Island, where they had a very happy life together for over 25 years.

In Sheila's late 80's, she began to suffer from dementia, so she and Denham moved to the Comox Valley where more support was available. Sheila lived her last two years at Glacier View Lodge, where she was lovingly looked after by a remarkable team of caregivers. We are immensely grateful to them for their compassion, patience and love.

Donations in memory of Sheila will be gratefully received by the Thetis Island Community Fund, Box 12-14, Thetis Island, B.C., V0R 2Y0