Vale Sheila de Silva

Greetings to St David's members and friends

Sheila celebrating her 90th Birthday at St David's

I write with the sad news that Sheila de Silva passed away peacefully on Saturday 17th August  at home at Oak Towers.  She would have turned 96 towards the end of the year. 

Sheila was very quiet but friendly as well as being a regular attendee at worship at St David's for many years - and Oakleigh beforehand.

Along with her husband, Michael,  they lived in South Oakleigh for many years.  On his passing, Sheila stayed on in their Unit.  Rajini Hoole would often pick up Sheila for church. They both had roots in Sri Lanka.  At one stage, whilst her unit was being renovated, Sheila moved to Rowville to live with family for some months.

In 2018, Sheila was coy about her age so didn't want a fuss made of her upcoming Big 0 birthday.  On the day however, she arrived with a beautiful pink cake supplied by the family so the congregation could share in her celebrations.  The big 90 candles on top meant that we were all aware of the significant occasion !!!  I did a quick head count and realised that of the seven members of the congregation who turned 90 in 2018,  five were present.  Of the remaining two, one had passed away soon after his big day and the other is in permanent care and doesn't come to worship.  What a great photo opportunity.  It even made Newsbeat - the Presbytery Newsletter. 

I think Sheila was the only one of this group still living at home at the time although she moved into care early the following year thus increasing the number of St David's people living at Oak Towers - St David's second congregation.

We extend our condolences to the extended family as we keep them in our prayers at this time.

The service to celebrate the life of Sheila de Silva will be at the Boyd Chapel, Springvale Cemetry on Thursday 29th August, 2024 at 10.15 am.

Blessings

Faye Sanderson 

for St David's UC Oakleigh/ 

Parish Secretary