Sheilah Carroll

SPRINGFIELD – Sheilah Carroll, 64, passed away peacefully at home on April 9, 2014. Born in Springfield, Sheilah was the daughter of, and predeceased by William W. and Mary E. (Mahoney) Carroll.

A strong advocate for all persons with disabilities, in her last position Sheilah was a 14 year Vision Loss Group Coordinator in Springfield for MAB Community Services out of Brookline, MA.   She attended the city’s public schools, the former Ursuline Academy in Springfield and Perkins School for the Blind in Watertown, MA.   Sheilah received her Bachelor’s degree from American International College and did graduate studies in Rehabilitation Counseling at Springfield College.  Previously, Sheilah had been employed by the former Career Development Services of West Springfield and Northampton, New England Business Associates of Holyoke, the former Belchertown State School and the former United Cerebral Palsy in West Springfield.   Sheilah served on the Advisory Boards of both the State and local offices for the Massachusetts Commission for the Blind, the Americans with Disabilities Task Force of Springfield and on the Board of Directors for New England Business Associates.  She was an ADA consultant for both the Springfield Museums and Chesterwood, the Berkshire home of sculptor Daniel Chester French.  She was also a 30 year member of the Board of Directors and on the Human Rights Committee for the Association for Community Living.  Sheilah’s family will miss her talents as an excellent cook, a skilled seamstress and a masterful weaver.

Sheilah leaves behind her sister, MaryAnn Carroll-Humphries of Springfield, her uncle Daniel J. Mahoney of Westfield; many cousins including Alberta Mahoney of Lee, MA, Katherine Milligan, Susan Castanera, Joanne Mahoney, Eileen Jachym and Daniel J. Mahoney Jr., all of Westfield, Anne Simms of San Diego, CA, Jack Mahoney of Granby, CT and Betty Ann Smith of West Hartford, CT.  Also left to remember her are her many, many friends but especially Debi Bardelli, Pam Witaszek, and Margaret O’Donnell of Springfield and Camille Petrecca of Wethersfield, CT.  Besides her parents, Sheilah was pre-deceased by a number of family members but of particular importance were her brother-in law Terry M. Humphries, of Springfield and her aunts, Catherine and Eleanor Mahoney of Westfield.

The family wishes to thank all the caregivers involved with Baystate Visiting Nurse Association and Hospice, Greater Springfield Senior Services and Capuano Care for their compassionate services and support.

Funeral Services will be on Monday, April 14, 2014 at 8:45AM at New England Funeral & Cremation Center, LLC 25 Mill Street, Springfield, MA with a Liturgy of Christian Burial at 10:00AM in Our Lady of Sacred Heart Church. Burial will be in the family plot in St. Mary Cemetery, Westfield. The wake will be held on Sunday, April 13, 2014 from 2:00PM to 4:00PM.

For those who wish please consider donations to Perkins Braille & Talking Book Library, 175 Beacon St., Watertown, MA 02472 or Association for Community Living, 220 Brookdale Drive, Springfield, MA or Radio Reading Service, Springfield, MA. Visit www.nefcc.net