It is with broken hearts that we announce the loss of our dear mother, grandmother, sister, and friend, Sheila Marie Swinnen, on April 27, 2023 at the QE2 in Halifax. Born in Sydney on October 28, 1946 to the late Henry and Marguerite (Campbell) Clements.
Sheila always enjoyed traveling, whether it was trips with her cousin Evelyn, summer vacations in Yarmouth during her younger days, later visiting her sister in Port Dufferin, or simply going out for tea and an orange cranberry muffin at McDonalds. She graduated from Riverview High School and then Cape Breton Business College. She spent most of her working life as the Head of Payroll and Trust Accounts at Cape Breton Hospital. Sheila loved the simple pleasures in life and never took them for granted– a beautiful flower (especially Peonies), a good crime show, and every holiday. She was always prepared with the right table napkin or the perfect card for the occasion. She was a proud breast cancer survivor, ABBA fan, and avid weather watcher. Sheila’s biggest achievement was her daughter Kim. She was so proud of the mother that she had become and being a nanny to Cameron was the most precious and rewarding experience of her life. She loved Kim with all her heart and loved Cameron even more.
Along with her daughter Kimberley Collins and her grandson Cameron, she is also survived by her sisters Marlene (Allan) Bragg, Louise Smiley, and Henrietta MacKinnon and her dear friends Normena Ward, Mary MacDonald, and Annie MacLennan. Besides her parents, she was predeceased by her brothers-in-law, Kenneth Smiley and Steve MacKinnon.
A visitation will take place on Friday, May 5 from 4 until 7pm at TW Curry Parkview Chapel, 755 George St., Sydney. A funeral service will be held at 11am on Saturday, May 6 also at TW Curry Parkview Chapel with Fr. Bill Burke officiating. Inurnment to follow in St. Mary’s Parish Cemetery, Frenchvale. Memories and condolences may be shared with the family by visiting www.twcurry.com. In lieu of flowers, donations in memory of Sheila may be made to the Cape Breton Regional Hospital Foundation, the Breast Cancer Society of Canada, or a charity of one's choice.
