Obituary of Mary Sheila Jewkes

Of Antigonish, passed away Saturday, August 9, 2014. Sheila Sears was born May 3, 1924, the third of 5 children of A.J. (Phonse) and Nano Sears. Sheila graduated from St. Francis Xavier University with a BSc in 1945. A woman ahead of her time, she often said that she " got her science degree before they split the atom." She married the boy next door, the love of her life, Creighton Jewkes on June 14, 1948. Sheila was a woman of deep faith. She was a lifelong member of St. Ninian's Parish in Antigonish and the Jimtown Chapel Community. As a member of the Eastern Auto family, Sheila was a natural behind the wheel. During the war years, as a teenager, she was brought into service shuttling big 'double clutched' trucks across Eastern Nova Scotia, often accompanied by her little brother Leo. Later, she could be seen behind the wheel of the family jeep or her Opel GT, unusual choices for a woman. She had an exceptional eye for colour and pattern, and was an expert seamstress, producing warm and inviting home interiors for her family to enjoy. Her knack for colour and design extended to exterior spaces as well; she spent many happy hours in her gardens and greenhouse. Sheila worked with her husband for over thirty years doing the books for the Antigonish 5¢ to $1.00 Store. She could often be found with an adding machine on a Friday afternoon, surrounded by ledgers, ensuring they balanced to the penny. She loved the water. Sheila could be seen frequently on the waves of St. Georges Bay swimming around the salmon nets or expertly tacking her Laser across the Jimtown Pond. Sheila was an avid reader and was never without a book on the go. Another of her great pleasures was to spend Saturday afternoons with her sister Betty (Jack MacDonald) conquering the Globe and Mail crossword puzzle. Her children will miss her dearly: Wendy (Paul Aitken), Lloyd (Noreen Nunn), Beth, and Stephen (Janine Swales) Jewkes. She was predeceased by son Donald Creighton in 1998, and her husband of 53 years, Creighton, in 2001. Her grandchildren were the joy of her life: Andrew and Colin Aitken, Matthew and Brian Jewkes, Nora Nunn Murphy, Oona, Angus, Thomas and Adam Fraser, and Creighton, Donald, Emma and Martha Jewkes. She was also "Nana" to children too numerous to mention. She is survived by her sister Moira (Eldon McKeen) and brother Tom (Shirley Foley) Sears. She is predeceased by her sister Betty (Jack MacDonald) and brother Leo Sears. She will be missed by her dear friend and sister-in-law Anne (Leo McLean) Sears. Visitation will take place at MacIsaacs Funeral Home, 61 Pleasant St., Antigonish, Tuesday August 12, 2014 from 2pm to 4 pm and from 7pm to 9pm. Funeral services will be held at St. Ninian's Cathedral Wednesday at 11am. The family would like to thank the paramedics and medical staff at St. Martha's who provided care and compassion to all of us, most of all Sheila. In Lieu of flowers, please make a contribution to the Antigonish Food Bank or the St. Martha's Hospital Foundation.