Sheila T. McPeak

May 27, 1926- Dec 30, 2024

On December 30, 2023, age 97 of Gloucester City and Longport, NJ , Sheila passed away at home surrounded by her loving family. Predeceased by her loving husband, Neil. Also predeceased by her parents Cornelius and Catherine Ward and her siblings Manus Ward, Catherine Ford (John), Mary Mulligan (Edward), Patrick Ward (Betty) and Margaret McKernan (Jack). Loving mother of  Neil McPeak (Barbara), Sheila Colalillo (Alex), Joseph McPeak, Kate Kearney (Steve) and Grace Woods (Ronald). Also survived by grandchildren Neil McPeak (Kara), John Kunkle (Vedra), Lauren Przestrzelski (Nathan),  Matthew McPeak (Kelly), Catherine Clark (Kevin), Kara McPeak, Sarah Skinner (Zachary), Mark Coalillo, Austin Kearney, Christine Colalillo, Daniel Woods, Ronald Woods (Gabrielle), Thomas Woods and Megan Woods. She is survived by 7 great grandchildren and many loving nieces and nephews.

Born in Bayonne, NJ Sheila lived her early years in Ireland with her grandparents from the age of 3 -7. Back in the United States the family was industrious, owning a grocery store, gas station and restaurant in Vineland and eventually the well known Shamrock Cafe in Wildwood, NJ where they lived and worked for decades. As witnesses to the depression and WWII, Sheila would tell real life history lessons of the depression and knowledge of the German U Boats just off the coast at the shore.

Sheila attended Wildwood High School for 2 years and finished at Camden Catholic when her parents moved to Gloucester City. She attended St. Joseph's College in Emmitsburg, MD where she was the captain of the basketball team,an avid tennis player and made lifelong friends. She continued her post graduate education earning credits from Rowan, Temple and Villanova.

In April 1956, Sheila married Neil at St. Mary's Church in Gloucester City where they raised their five children, all attending St. Mary's grammar school and Gloucester Catholic High School. Sheila was an elementary school teacher for Gloucester City for 26 years and taught in Camden City for 4 years where she started her career in education.

A lifelong athlete, one of Sheila's favorite joys in life was to go to the beach; she loved the ocean and continued to  body surf the waves with her grandchildren well into her 80's. Always finding ways to exercise her body as well as her mind, she introduced many to the power of meditation and reflection before it was popular.

As her children settled into their lives, Sheila quickly took on the role of grandmother. She thoroughly enjoyed watching her family grow and with the birth of each baby tried to find time to share with all. She was the proud grandmother of 14 grandchildren and 7 great grandchildren.

Above all else, her faith and her family were always most important to Sheila.

Relatives and Friends are invited to Sheila's Visitation on Saturday, January 6, 2024 from 10:15 am to 11:45 am at St. Mary's R.C. Church, 426 Monmouth Street, Gloucester City followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 12:00 Noon. Interment with her late husband in New Saint Mary's Cemetery, Bellmawr.

Family requests memorial donations in lieu of flowers to Saint Mary's R.C. Church: 426 Monmouth Street, Gloucester City, NJ 08030. Please write in memo: Sheila T. McPeak.

Condolences and Memories may be shared at www.mccannhealey.com under the obituary of Sheila T. McPeak.

Funeral Arrangements and Inquiries may be made through: McCann - Healey Funeral Home: Gloucester City. Ph: 856 - 456 - 1142