BYRNES PEEL Sheila Ellen
April 25, 1952 - January 10, 2015
After a journey of love, laughter, and light, our courageous Sheila passed away peacefully with loving family members at her side. She is survived by her Mother, Joan Dunn Byrnes; by her Daughter, Angela Peel and Son-In-Law, Rodd MacNeil and their son, Sheila’s grandchild, Austin MacNeil; by her siblings: Elaine (Frank) Kinnaird, Judy Anderson, Joanne Sexsmith, Patricia Byrnes, Colleen (John) Bishop, Bev (Terry) Berg, Jim Byrnes (Claudine King), Cathy (Danny) Johnson, & Janie (Gary) Meeres; by her 27 Nieces & Nephews; by her 22 (and counting) Great Nieces & Great Nephews. She is predeceased by her Father, William Austin Byrnes (April 3, 1921 - September 8, 2011). Joan & Austin moved their young family out west from Kindersley, Saskatchewan, settling in the Fraser Valley on a dairy farm, where they flourished, raising a beautiful, close-knit family. Sheila was instilled with traditional values and was taught the importance of strength in family. Her happiest, healthiest, and most fulfilling years were spent as a wife, mother, & homemaker. She excelled at sewing & upholstery, and had a rich social life. She was a member of the Chilliwack Fish & Game Club, and the Black Powder Club, where she learned marksmanship & camping skills. She loved live music, and on occasion, was known to rule the dance floor! Her proudest moments include attending Byrnes Family parties, trips to Cape Breton to visit the Dunn clan, volunteering at Family Place, and when she (at long last) became a Grandmother in March 2014. She got to spend quality, treasured time with her grandbaby & he will always know his Gramma Sheila through her legacy of love. A remarkable example of resilience, Sheila was a gracious warrior as she endured and battled her illnesses. She will be remembered as a kind and colourful personality, and by her generosity of spirit. She lived her life by the Serenity Prayer. She sought recovery & maintained her serenity in her willingness to console others by sharing her experiences, and by listening to those in need of a good listener. She was a legendary listener. Sheila enjoyed decades of fellowship within Chilliwack, Rosedale & Sardis areas, before retiring to Abbotsford. This move allowed her to be closer to her dialysis treatments, a minimum of 3 times every week, a heavy regimen that she committed to for over 7 years. The family wishes to express our sincere gratitude for the exceptional care Sheila received during visits to Chilliwack General Hospital, Mary Street Medical, and the Abbotsford Regional Hospital. She powered through the turbulence of bipolar disorder and kidney disease. May her fatigued body rest in eternal peace. May her persevering spirit live forever in the hearts of all who love her. Please join us for The Celebration of Sheila’s Life. We will all come together on Saturday, February 7 at 1 p.m. at The Salvation Army Community Church 46420 Brooks Avenue, Chilliwack. Online condolences may be offered on our Facebook page, In Loving Memory of Sheila Byrnes Peel www.facebook.com/SheilaByrnesPeel) or
at www.hendersonfunerals.com
“Grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.”
Henderson’s Funeral Homes & Crematorium Ltd.
45901 Victoria Avenue, Chilliwack, British Columbia | (604) 792.1344