Sheila Mowbray
February 27, 1927 - November 17, 2014
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Sheila Mowbray
February 27, 1927 - November 17, 2014
Obituary
Kathleen ‘Sheila’ Mowbray, devoted wife, beloved mother, treasured grandmother was born in Manchester, England, as an only child. Her mother passed away when Sheila was just four. During the war, she was sent out of the city, with hundreds of thousands of other English children to keep them safe from the bombings. She met her husband, Gerard Mowbray (who passed away on November 5th) at a youth group at their church. They met at a St. Paddy’s day church dance so they celebrated that as the anniversary of the day they met. They married five years later. She had a special arrangement with God that she wished 4 children in the order of girl, boy, girl, boy. God granted that wish.
Sheila was a mover and a shaker. She persuaded her husband to immigrate to Montreal, Canada in 1957, to afford their young family a better opportunity. In 1966, she decided that the winters in Montreal were intolerable, so, now the Mowbrays, a family of six, moved to the San Fernando Valley. Sheila loved to be with her husband and was his temporary assistant and secretary for many years. They were inseparable and often waited anxiously for the other to return home. Sheila and Gerard later relocated to Orange County, bought a travel agency and spent many happy years organizing and escorting tours of Catholics to the Holy Land, Italy, the Continent and Ireland.
Sheila and Gerard were devout Catholics and enjoyed the community at St. John Neumann and Corpus Christi. They sang in the church choir for years.
She was very much the matriarch of the family and didn’t hesitate to state her opinion when she felt it was needed. She had a rapier wit, a great sense of fun and was sharp to the end. She was always beautifully dressed and never owned a pair of jeans.
When Gerard passed away suddenly 12 days prior to her death, she decided she wouldn’t live any longer on this earth without him. She soon joined her beloved husband of 63 years. They are now united in heaven. May they rest in peace.
11 responses to Sheila Mowbray
Mowbray Family says:
November 24, 2014
Sheila was the quintessential loving and devoted wife to Gerard (Gerry).
There was never a question about their commitment to each other, to their vow made before God to be Husband & Wife. They lived daily as the epitome of a married couple, for better or for worse, good times or in bad. They loved each other joyously, forever as best friends…
Neither had ever been in any other relationship. They were devoted to each other, to their family. They were together for 68 years total, happily married for 63. Their relationship proudly originated in their local parish church, in the St Dunstan’s Youth Club in Manchester England.
After Gerry passed away unexpectedly on 5 November while caring for his wife, Sheila stoically crossed over to be with him in heaven again, on 17 November. Her beloved daughters Catherine & Dianne endlessly at her bedside for twelve days, Sheila passed within 5 minutes to the hour, from the passing of her Husband.
Friends have called it a great love story. Truly, Gerry & Sheila shared a great love story… an example to others, young and old.
Their lives were intertwined in every way, it was only fitting that Sheila’s faith and bravery guided her to be at his side again…
With a joyful expression on her face, she greeted her Pastor – Fr Tim for a final blessing when he visited her after Gerry’s passing. Equally, she felt blessed by the supportive visits of her longtime dear friend, Fr Colm Conlon.
Sheila received the Holy Eucharist prior to her passing, and indeed lived her entire life as a devotee of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Power of Prayer (“Prayer works”), the Sacred Heart of Jesus, and the power of the Holy Spirit.
She was a fantastic and supportive wife, a devoted Mother (Mum) and GrandMother (Grammy).
Sheila was an Entrepreneur, a Business Manager, a World Traveler, and amazingly was constantly aware of global current affairs.
As stated by Fr Tim, Sheila & Gerry now walk “hand in hand in heaven for Eternity”.
They are together again – there is no doubt… Without a single complaint or woe, Sheila willed herself to join her Husband – her best friend Gerard Mowbray, her man in Heaven.
Joseph Grillo says:
November 25, 2014
She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tounge is the law of kindness. Many daughters have done virtuously, but thou excellest them all – Proverbs 31:26 31:29 – Shelia you will always be in my thoughts and prayers, thank you for sharing your heart with us – Joseph and Donna Grillo
Joseph Grillo says:
November 25, 2014
Lit a candle in memory of Sheila Mowbray
Barbara White says:
November 26, 2014
Gosh where do I begin! Sheila was such major part ofymy life from the age of 18 when I went on holiday & stayed with her & Gérard for 6 weeks it was the most wonderful experience & brought me so close with them & their children my cousins! Over the years icwas blessed to visit a few times but then our relationship continued by phone or letter! At one stage I was going to antique fairs getting piece’s to send so Sheila could sell them through a little business she had I still today go to the fairs as she got me interested! She always addressed me as ‘my dear’ ivcsn hesr her voice now! Sheila & my mum Gérards cousin were just obe day different in age & became firm friends especially when Gérard had to go aeay in the war Sheila would push her eldest 2 children round to see my mum who was nursing her mother I think many a cup of tea was had! I will always remember their visits we all got together as a family coming from all over so we could see them thete wss always a lot of laughter! Im goi g to miss Sheila so much but can see her face now when she told me 23years ago how she had said to her children that if she & Gérard died in a plane crash not to be sad as they wanted to go together well her wish was granted
Jurij Hasselmeier says:
November 30, 2014
Beloved Host Parents and Friends for Life
I have known Gerard and Sheila for 30 years. I have the most positive memories of both of them and I shared some of the happiest moments of my life with them.
It started back in 1984 when I came over to the U.S. as a 16 years old German exchange student to stay at the Mowbray family for one year in Laguna Hills. Gerard and Sheila had volunteered to become my host parents the match was fate. That year and our relationship turned out to be a turning point in my life and inspired me to study in Southern California and England a few years later. I occasionally visited them over the years and often stayed again at their house. When I got married in 2001, Gerard, Sheila and John visited us in Germany and made our wedding very special and truly the happiest day in my life.
Gerard and Sheila were wonderful, caring, altruistic people and a lovely couple. I feel blessed to have been so close together with them and their family. Our friendship was a special gift for me. I will miss them.