Obituary of Sheila Helen FERCHO

August 3, 1939 – November 25, 2011 Sheila passed away peacefully at the age of 72 years. She is survived by her loving husband Art; her sons, Greg, Kevin (Cathy), Shawn; granddaughter Kaitlyn; twin sister Shirley Forrest; numerous nieces, nephews and cousins; and many close friends. She was predeceased by her parents Steve and Bessie Forrest; and brothers Bob and Don. Sheila and her twin sister Shirley were the first set of twins ever born in Langley Prairie, BC, now known as Langley, BC. She was raised on a small farm and attended four schools in the Langley area from grades one to nine. In 1952, at the age of thirteen, she lost her mother to leukemia. On her sixteenth birthday, the family moved to Nampa, AB, where they lived for a year. She then moved to Calgary, AB in 1956, and began working for Zellers department store in 1957. In 1959, she met Art, whom she married in 1961. She continued working for Zellers until she gave birth to their first son Greg, in 1963. They then had two other sons; Kevin in 1965, and Shawn in 1967. Their only grandchild, Kaitlyn, was born in 1999 to Kevin and Cathy. On July 29, 2011, Sheila and Art celebrated their fiftieth wedding anniversary. Throughout her life Sheila was a warm, kind, and generous person, who would always put others before herself. She became a “block parent” to all of the neighbourhood kids, who loved her like a second mom. Sheila had a love for animals of all species and they were drawn to her. As a child, she followed her grandfather around his greenhouse, and thus developed her green thumb and passion for gardening. She also had a strong passion for quilting, and at last count has produced over forty quilts, all hand quilted. She also spent some of her time knitting, doing ceramics, and painting. Sheila was always known for baking the best bread, and of course, her “to die for” chocolate chip cookies! Sheila liked to spend her summers at what she referred to as “her Ponderosa”, the family property in Cranbrook, BC. In last few years, she began her courageous battle with pulmonary fibrosis, which she faced with a determination and strength that was admired by all that knew her. She will be greatly missed and always deeply loved. A Celebration of Sheila’s Life will be held at McINNIS & HOLLOWAY’S Fish Creek Chapel (14441 Bannister Road S.E.) on Friday, December 2, 2011 at 2:00 p.m. Forward condolences through www.mcinnisandholloway.com. If friends so desire, memorial tributes may be made directly to the Alberta Lung Association, P.O. Box 4500, Station South, Edmonton, AB T6E 6K2 Telephone: 1 (888) 566 – 5864. www.ab.lung.ca. In loving memory of Sheila Fercho, a tree will be planted at Fish Creek Provincial Park by McINNIS & HOLLOWAY FUNERAL HOMES, Fish Creek Chapel, 14441 BANNISTER ROAD S.E. Telephone: (403) 256-9575.