Here are a couple things Sheila wrote recently …
Obituary
Sheila Marsha Patrick was born on April 4,1954 in Saskatoon. At the age of six weeks she was welcomed by her parents John & Eleanor Patrick and sister Joanne. She grew up in Regina and was involved in piano lessons, swimming lessons and the senior choir at Wesley United Church. She was also a member of the MacEwan Singers and Job’s Daughters Bethel # 1. At the age of sixteen the family relocated to Kelowna where Sheila completed high school. She married her high school sweetheart David Veller in 1973 and the couple lived in many cites throughout Canada. She completed her Degree in Psychology from Simon Fraser University in 1980.
She began her career with B.C. Corrections in 1990 where she served as a correctional officer for seven years. She worked at Lakeside, Burnaby Correctional Centre for Women and Vancouver Pre-Trial. Sheila became a Probation Officer in 1997 and worked in both the Vancouver and Fraser Regions. She also became a shop steward and worked tirelessly representing the members as a steward and later as the chairperson of Local 604 BCGEU.
Sheila had an incredible sense of humor and was devoted to her husband and her Westie named Prince. She was able to travel to several exotic places with her husband and enjoyed a good glass of wine. Sheila is most proud of her volunteer work and her commitment to improving the working lives of her peers. She would like to acknowledge the staff at the Oncology Department at Burnaby General Hospital as well as Dr. Davey. She is predeceased by her parents and survived by her husband David. Sisters Joanne & Debbie and numerous nephews and nieces.
A Celebration of Life will be held at Deer Lake United Church in Burnaby when we can…Spring 2021. In lieu of flowers please donate to the Canadian Cancer Society.
Miracles on Sunset Street
Sheila’s cancer journey
This is my story I was diagnosed with an aggressive form of breast cancer in November of 2017. Thanks to a proactive and fantastic family Dr. Bruce Davey I was referred to a surgeon…….this was not pleasant as she berated me for not having children and basically blamed me for my situation however, she did me a favor by referring me to my oncologist.. My mammogram did not pick up the cancer, but a biopsy did, and I began chemo in January of 2018. I had chemo in Burnaby oncology where I had the pleasure of meeting my oncologist Dr. Telio who arranged for me to go to the cancer agency in Vancouver for 25 rounds of radiation and six rounds of chemo. I did not test positive for the BRACA gene and was not eligible for clinical trials.
I was delighted when treatment ended but this would not be the last skirmish with cancer. I had a reoccurrence in November of 2019 and this time they found spots on my lungs and brain which were subsequently treated which chemo and full brain radiation. I am happy to report I just finished my last cycle of chemo and I am slowly recovering at home. I prayed for miracles as did others and God delivered me. I am truly blessed to have an excellent medical team and a fantastic husband who has supported me through this journey. My faith has helped me weather this storm and continues to comfort me.
I am very grateful for all the support and love I have received. I am truly blessed. Cancer was a wake-up call……. Somethings in life are really important and others aren’t, and we should be grateful everyday as it is a gift.
Sheila wrote this before her third battle with cancer. What she did not say was she had “Triple Negative Breast Cancer”. Very aggressive and very rare. The last few months have been very tough… for both of us. Watching her lose a little piece to Cancer every day. She fought it right to the end and I cried a lot.