Sheila Ellen O'Connell

Sheila Ellen O’Connell, age 59, passed away at her home in Hingham, Massachusetts on Saturday, December 6, 2014 after a four year struggle with ALS. Sheila was the daughter of the late David Francis O’Connell and Maureen Thompson O’Connell.

Sheila was born April 21, 1955, in Newton, Massachusetts. After graduating from Boston College in 1977, Sheila worked for several years in Social Services and was the Director of Recruitment for Department of Children and Families in Massachusetts (formerly the Department of Social Services). After retiring from DCF Sheila took her considerable people skills to the private sector where she worked in nursing recruitment at South Shore Hospital and physician recruitment for Harvard Vanguard Medical Associates. Sheila left Harvard Vanguard in 2010 after she was diagnosed with ALS. Sheila fought hard against the disease and spoke at several events to raise awareness for ALS. Sheila was invited to attend the NEALS/ALS Clinical Research Learning Institute annual meeting as a patient advocate in 2013.

Sheila is survived her sister Carrie Brew and her husband Dwight of Amherst, New Hampshire; brother David O’Connell and his wife Esther of Needham, Massachusetts; and brother Danny O’Connell of Sandwich, Massachusetts. Sheila was preceded in death by her sisters Patsy O'Connell Crerie and Moira O'Connell Ingham and beloved dog Ethel. Sheila is also survived by her twelve beloved nieces and nephews, many great nieces and nephews, friends too many to count, and the dedicated care givers that cared for her so compassionately for the past four years.

Calling hours will be from 4 pm to 7 pm on Wednesday, December 10, 2014 at the Nickerson-Bourne Funeral Home, 154 Route 6A, Sandwich, Massachusetts. Burial will be held in private. A celebration of Sheila’s life will take place on Saturday, December 27th at a location on the South Shore to be determined. Relatives and friends are welcome at both the calling hours and celebration of life.

Memorial contributions are welcome and should be mailed to the ALS Association Massachusetts Chapter; 315 Norwood Park South, 1st Floor; Norwood, MA 02062 in memory of Sheila O’Connell.