Sheila Mary Beck Hughes

Sheila (nee Walmsley) was born on June 19, 1931 in Wallasey, England across the Mersey from Liverpool. Growing up in wartime England, she would later relate memories of rationing, bombings and she and her sister, Doreen being separated for years from three brothers: John, Allan and Vin, who where sent to homes in the countryside.

Sheila married Peter Beck on November 27, 1954. Shelia talked fondly of the bicycle trips and hikes they would go on and the sailboat they shared with friends. The first five of their children were born in Stafford, where Peter worked as an electrical engineer and a sixth after our family immigrated to Canada in 1967.

After settling into their house on Carpathia Road they became active participants in Parish life at St. John Brebeuf Church forming strong friendships that endure to this day.

Family life with our Mum was amazing. Her love was unconditional. When problems arose she turned on the kettle for tea, and at night advised, “say your prayers, it will look better in the morning”. Mum was right. She seemed able to do anything she set her mind to; she made sewing, decorating and cooking appear simple. (A truly wonderful cook, Mum asked not to be remembered for it; to her with a family of eight it was just something “one had to get on with”). She actively volunteered at St. John Brebeuf School in our primary years and later on at St. Mary’s Academy and St. Paul’s High School. Our home was filled with friends and laughter. Our summers were spent at Wanasing Beach in a cottage that together, our parents built and decorated.

Sheila lovingly cared for Peter through a long illness with Parkinson’s Disease. We missed our Dad terribly but a few years after his death in 1992 she entered another phase of her life, marrying Ellis Hughes on September 6, 1996. Mum and Ellis spent twelve adventurous years together. Dividing their time between Winnipeg and Florida they traveled extensively, visiting grandchildren and exploring the world. We were so happy they had those years together and all missed Ellis after he passed away in 2008.

The most defining trait of our wonderful Mother was her resilience. Despite the loss of loved ones and setbacks along the way, she always picked herself up and moved forward.

A true life-long learner she exposed herself to new challenges. She took up tennis in her sixties, learned to play bridge in her seventies and lawn bowling in her eighties. She recently learned to use her new iPad, communicated often through email and Skype and remained a formidable Scrabble opponent throughout.

Sheila took enormous interest in her six children and ten grandchildren and is lovingly remembered by them all:

Ian (Maxine Goring, Molly and Hamish); Sarah (Michael Raleigh, Keegan, Emma and Conor); Andrew; Penny (Jim McLandress, Hannah and Finlay), Hilary (John Nash, Zachary, Haydon & Olivia); and Chris (Brian Peel).

Prayers will be said on Thursday, January 14 at 7:00 p.m. at Thomson “In the Park” Funeral Home, 1291 McGillivray Boulevard.

Funeral mass will be held on Friday, January 15 at 10:30 a.m. at St. John Brebeuf Parish Church, 1707 John Brebeuf Place, with Father Mark Tarrant as the Celebrant.

Our Mum thought all children should have a summer holiday as we did, so please consider a donation to “The Sunshine Fund” to send children to camp on her behalf. Mbcamping.ca (204-784-1134)