May 20, 1925 - Mar 15, 2018
Sheila was born in London, England, and spent much of her childhood in India with her parents and three brothers. Her father was a doctor, who later received the O.B.E. (Order of the British Empire) for his work in getting a hospital built in Jabalpur, India. Sheila and her brothers spent parts of their childhood back in England in strict religious boarding schools, which were not easy times. When World War ll broke out, Sheila joined the Women's Auxiliary Air Force in Delhi. After the family returned to England in a naval convoy, she served with the Women's Air Force on the Isle of Wight, and had a key role as radar operator during the D-Day invasion in June 1944.
After the war, she married Lt. Colonel Lewis Collinson, whom she had met a few years earlier in India. They began their married life in Guernsey, Channel Islands, and two daughters were born, Theresa and Sara. A few years later they moved to Kenya, East Africa. As a teacher in adult business education, Sheila took part in Kenya's transition to independent rule.
Sheila's brother David was a doctor who had moved to Saskatchewan, and with his encouragement, Sheila made the decision to immigrate too. She was by then a single mother of teenaged daughters and the three of them embarked on an epic journey by Norwegian freighter from Mombasa, East Africa to Halifax, then by train to Lafleche, Sask. Many years of hard work followed, as Sheila completed her teacher's training and went on to gain a Masters degree from Loyola University in Montreal. Later on she moved to British Columbia and taught at Booth High School in Prince Rupert.
After her retirement from teaching, Sheila lived on Bowen Island for twenty two years. She had a small house near the beach, where she went swimming every day from June to October. She was Secretary of the Royal Canadian Legion for many years, and one of the few World War ll veterans living on Bowen. She grew flowers and vegetables in her garden, walked with her dog in the woods, and had a busy active social life, joining an art class and playing bridge regularly.
When it became more difficult to live alone, Sheila moved to Nelson in 2009. At first she lived at Lakeview Village, then with daughter Sara, and eventually moved in to Mountain Lake Seniors Community. The family are very appreciative of the support and care she received in the community and Mountain Lakes.
Sheila is survived by her daughters Theresa and Sara, grandchildren Jeffrey, Michael (Liu Yan) and Brahmi, and great-grandson Joachim.
A funeral mass will be held for Sheila on Saturday April 28th at 2 p.m. at the Cathedral of Mary Immaculate in Nelson. Her ashes will be scattered off Bowen Island in early June, a place where she spent many happy years.
Sheila was a strong and courageous woman, unconditionally devoted to her family.
Rest in peace, Sheila. You are forever loved and missed.