October 31, 1929 - July 18, 2025
Sheila Mary Mullen (née Walsh) passed away surrounded by her beloved daughters at the Sechelt Hospital at the age of 95. Sheila was born in Oxford, England, to Catherine (née Kathleen Lawrence) and Major James E.R. Walsh. She was the fifth of the six Walsh children: Jimmy (Eileen), Sr. Coralie, Anne (Peter Allen), Kathleen, and Margaret (John Parkes). Growing up, Sheila’s grandparents and Annie Mary Clémence, “Aunt Lum,” resided in the house next door, and she often told stories of the fun they would have running between the two houses to see who was serving the better menu that day.
Sheila is survived by her daughters Louise, Kathleen, and Anne-Mary Mullen, her son-in-law Marcus Collier, grandchildren Myles, Anna, and Luke, and great grandson Ely, Anne-Mary’s partner Christian Sida Valenzuela, Kathleen’s chosen family, Maui Mullen family, Sheila’s brother-in-law John Parkes, and many nieces, nephews, great nieces, great nephews, and dear friends in Gibsons and around the world. And, Zarco the family dog.
In 1949, Sheila graduated from the University of London with a degree in Education. She worked for fourteen years as a primary school teacher in London and Oxford, a job she adored. She had an exceptional memory, and could memorize the names of forty pupils within a morning. She often said that you couldn’t make students behave unless you knew their names!
In 1959, Sheila decided that she needed to stretch her wings and applied for a teaching position in Kuwait. It was there that she met the great love of her life, Richard C. Mullen, a tall, friendly engineer from Jerome, Arizona, who was also working abroad in Kuwait. Sheila and Dick were married on the 7th September, 1963, and “Aunt Sheila” soon became a much-loved member of the Mullen family, especially for her blackberry crisps in Oak Creek. After many years of travel and work in the US and Canada, Sheila and Dick very happily retired to Gibsons, BC, from Edmonton, AB, in 1989.
Sheila was a woman of deep faith and an active member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church and the Catholic Women’s League. She served as Eucharistic Minister for many years, which she considered a great honour. Her faith and church community were extremely important to her and a fundamental support throughout her life, and especially in the last decades after her beloved Dick passed away in 2003.
A woman of boundless energy, Sheila was a great lover of the arts and the local community. In the 1990s, she volunteered for eight years as a board member of the Gibsons Public Library and helped to get the new building built. For over a decade, she was on the board of the Gibsons Public Art Gallery as the reception organizer. She also acted as the volunteer Club Historian for the Gibsons Yacht Club. In the last few years, well into her 90s, she continued to volunteer twice a month as a greeter at Harmony Hall Seniors Centre.
She always loved flowers, especially roses, and was an avid member of the Gibsons Garden Club, enjoying many wonderful Garden Club trips, plant sales, and events with her friends. She also had a great love for reading and was a member of a book club for decades. She would restrict herself to reading “just” 50 pages per day, so that she would leave time to get a few other things done. An avid world traveller, she loved new experiences, visiting family, and enjoyed many trips home and abroad.
Although Sheila never returned to live in England, she cherished a close relationship with all her Walsh family there. She carried her tradition of afternoon tea wherever she went, including making the most delicious English sponge and homemade scones. Known for her quintessential British accent, sharp wit, and radiant, welcoming smile, Sheila will be truly missed by all her family and many friends who have known her throughout her amazing 95 years of life.
As one of her nephews so eloquently wrote, “She was the person who made you feel better just by being around her. The real embodiment of love.”
Rest in Peace, dear Sheila.
Our family would like to express our deep thanks to Dr. Spithoff, and to all the paramedics, emergency response team members, doctors, nurses, and Sechelt Hospital staff who so kindly cared for our mother and for us.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to a local charity of your choice.
