Sheila Mary Whiteley (24 Dec 1933 - 15 Dec 2025)

In loving memory of Sheila Mary Whiteley who sadly passed away on 15th December 2025
Sheila was born in Huddersfield on Christmas Eve in 1933 to Agnes and Norman, and the family always remembered her as a true Christmas child. Norman sold cloth, and when war came in 1939 he went away to serve in the Army. Agnes, who had previously worked in service, showed Sheila the values that would shape her life, kindness, resilience and putting family first.
Sheila went to Moldgreen School and grew up surrounded by friends and family living close by. She spent many happy hours with her cousins Ian, Peter, Mavis and Susan, Billy and Trevor, a few, amongst many cousins, and those early years gave her a strong sense of belonging that stayed with her always. When she left school she dreamed of becoming a journalist and although life took her in different directions that curiosity and love of people never left her.
As a young woman she moved to London living with family and working as a telephonist on switchboards for the GPO. She loved London and the experience made a lasting impact on her, giving her confidence, independence, and a wider view of the world. When her Mum became unwell Sheila returned home to Huddersfield without hesitation showing once again that family always came first.
Through church she met Peter, and together they built a life rooted in love, faith and shared values. They married in 1960 and lived at Mountfield Avenue, Waterloo ,and soon after their family grew with the arrival of Andrea in 1961, moving to Goldington Avenue in Oakes on the arrival on Chris in 1964, creating a warm welcoming home.
Music was always close to Sheila’s heart. She came from a musical family enjoyed amateur dramatics and Gilbert and Sullivan performances, along with Peter, sang in choirs and played the piano. She enjoyed attending concerts, going to see Andre Rieu, and Michael Ball and Alfie Boe with Andrea, and attending local productions with Melinda. She kept her keyboard until very recently and music continued to bring her comfort and joy.
Sheila and Peter shared a love of holidays. Early trips involved public transport, heading to places like St Annes, Fleetwood, Bridlington and Scarborough. Once they had a car their world widened with trips to Port Patrick in Scotland, their first overseas cruise to the Canaries and a memorable holiday to Malta where Chris famously caught chicken pox. Blackpool remained a firm favourite, and after attending a timeshare convention they bought a property in Spain, which became such a special part of their lives.
Alongside raising her children, Sheila worked hard. She was a dinner lady well known for her reliability, and care, and later worked as a cleaner for a local family in a large house. When her time as a dinner lady came to an end, she returned to telephony working as a receptionist and telephonist for Continental Wine and Food. Sheila retired in her fifties and moved back to Waterloo once more, to make it easier to look after her ill mother.
After her mother passed away, Sheila embraced a new adventure and moved to Spain with Peter, and Dusty the West Highland Terrier, settling in Calpe north of Alicante and Benidorm. She loved Spanish life, the sunshine, the music and the friendships she made there. Family were always keen to visit and those years are filled with happy memories. She lived in Spain for eleven years, singing in a choir, playing the piano and keyboard, and enjoying a rich social life. She made many friends, and her good friend Barbara stayed in close contact with Sheila for the rest of her life.
As much as she loved Spain, Sheila missed her grandchildren and that pull of family brought her home in the nineties. Sheila and Peter returned to England, first living in Fleetwood near Blackpool a place she had always loved, and then later moving back again to Huddersfield.
Peter died in 2011, and Sheila stayed living independently showing the same quiet strength she had always carried. Her final move was to Portland Street, to be closer to Chris, and where she made new friends Pauline and Ian, who also helped her out greatly in her latter months.
Above all Sheila was devoted to her family. She was immensely proud of Andrea and Chris and of Andrea’s husband John and Chris’s wife Melinda, and of her grandchildren Sarah Stephen, Laura, Eliot, Ian and Chas. Becoming a grandma drew her even closer to home and later she delighted in her great grandchildren Jack, Sophie, Scarlett, Oliver, Ella and Eric. She loved having the family around celebrating together giving generously and simply being surrounded by those she loved.
Sheila’s 90th Birthday was celebrated surrounded by family, just as she wanted, with everyone that attended enjoying the very special day.
Over the past four or five months her health declined. During this time everyone had the chance to see her, but following a brief stay in hospital Sheila passed away peacefully with her family by her side.
Sheila never liked to be the centre of attention yet today she deserves to be.
This is a celebration of a life well lived. A life marked by love hard work music friendship and devotion to family. Sheila Whiteley leaves behind a legacy of warmth, generosity and quiet pride, and she will be deeply missed and forever remembered.