Mary graduated from St. Joseph Academy in Cleveland, Ohio, which laid the foundation for her lifetime commitment to education, community, and faith. As a devoted Catholic, this faith led her to become an active member in the church.
Before dedicating her life to her family as a homemaker, she worked at NASA Lewis Research Center in Cleveland, followed by DCSC (Defense Construction Supply Center) in Columbus.
A passionate folk and decorative painter, Mary acted as president of the National Society of Tole and Decorative Painters and assumed many leadership positions for the local chapter, Heart of Ohio Tole.
Mary lived a life full of color. Channeling her love of color, she was involved in Beauty for All Seasons and Color Me Beautiful; she truly believed in the transformative power of color.
A devoted mother, Mary spent countless years serving on and leading the PTA and volunteering for all of her daughters’ activities, cheering them on at swim meets and dance performances.
Mary was an eternal optimist and kind-hearted individual. She had a very generous heart, donating annually to over thirty charities. She never complained, to a fault, and her sweet disposition quickly made her a favorite resident at the nursing homes she resided at near her death.
She had many dear friends from the neighborhood she lived in for over fifty years. They were like family, enjoying countless evenings sitting and talking on the driveway, decades of walks together, years of Wednesday-morning breakfasts, and Friday afternoon trips to Johnson’s Ice Cream. A favorite neighborhood memory of Mary’s was hosting an annual New Year’s Day brunch.
In addition to her friends, Mary also deeply adored her siblings, who she always wished she had lived closer to.
Above all else, Mary’s most fulfilling roles in life were loving wife, mother, and grandmother.
Our lives are a canvas, and Mary’s kindness painted the most beautiful pictures.
Mary is preceded in death by her beloved husband, F. Warren Sheets; her parents, Oscar T and Rita C. (Haffey) Hippley; and brothers Thomas and John.
Left to cherish her memory are her daughters, Paula Sheets-Paull (Scott Paull) and Bridget Sirak (John); grandson Jack Paull; granddaughters Victoria, Alexandra, and Olivia Sirak; sisters June and Dorothy; brother Gerard; and many nieces and nephews.
Visitation will be held on Thursday, July 18, 2024, from 4pm-7pm at Schoedinger Northeast Funeral Home, 1051 East Johnstown Road, Gahanna, OH 43230. A Mass of Christian Burial will take place the following morning, July 19, at 11am at Holy Spirit Catholic Church, 4383 E Broad St, Columbus, OH 43213. Services will conclude with interment at Glen Rest Memorial Estates.
In lieu of flowers, please consider donating in Mary’s name to the National MS Society:
https://donate.nationalmssociety.org/campaign/In-Memory-of-Mary-Ann-Sheets
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