Mary E. Sheile

Wasilla resident Mary E. Sheile, 78, died at home with her family beside her on Dec. 28, 2009 of complications from an illness. A private burial will be held by her family in Alaska.

Mary was born on Nov. 19, 1931 in Boston. She also lived in California and Oregon before making her way to Alaska with her husband, Larry Sheile Sr., in June 2000. Larry preceded her in death after 52 years of marriage in January 2004.

She began working as a volunteer senior companion at the Palmer Day-Care Center. She was full of life and had a kind soul. She loved being with the clients and staff, playing cards, putting puzzles together, helping at lunch and snack time, and just talking and listening to the stories of the people she was blessed to know while she worked there. She also enjoyed her lively conversations with the drivers that would take her to and from the center.

She loved to knit and was a voracious reader. She was also an avid collector of gnomes, especially Tom Clark’s collection.

Mary is survived by her daughter and son-in-law Colleen and Curtis Lucas of Wasilla; son and daughter-in-law Larry Jr. and Darlene Sheile of Trail, Ore.; and daughter and son-in-law Kathy and Frank Allen of Medford, Ore. She was also blessed with several grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

She was greatly loved and will be truly missed.

Arrangements were with Valley Funeral Home and Crematory in Wasilla.