Sheila Way was born on March 26, 1929 in Tamworth, Ontario the third of five girls of Anne Keeney and Angus Way. When she completed secondary school, she attended Peterborough Normal School. During the next few years, she taught in Douro, Indian River, Whitby, Burlington and St. Catharines before entering the novitiate of the Sisters of Providence of St. Vincent de Paul on September 15, 1957. As a postulant and later as a senior novice she taught part-time at St. Joseph’s School in Kingston.
Following her First Profession of Vows, she taught at St. Patrick’s School and Holy Family School in Kingston. In 1962 she taught at St. Carthagh’s School in Tweed. In 1964 she returned to Kingston as principal of St. Peter’s School. In 1975 she was assigned to St. Joseph’s School in Gananoque. In 1981 she went to St. Francis School in Smiths Fall to teach a Special Education class. During her teaching career she often taught catechism classes in the rural areas of the Archdiocese during the summer and on the weekends. She took Ministry of Education courses in Toronto and Hamilton before she entered and later in Toronto and Kingston. She obtained her BA from the University of Ottawa through summer sessions. She served on the local OECTA unit, the Archdiocesan Sisters’ Council and Parish Council.
When she retired from teaching in 1987, she enjoyed a sabbatical of spiritual enrichment in Cottonwood, Idaho and Dover, Massachusetts. In Dover she took a Pastoral Care course and another one in Ottawa. She began her ministry in Pastoral Care as Director at St. Mary’s of the Lake Hospital in Kingston. She later went to St. Joseph’s Auxiliary Hospital in Edmonton to continue her ministry in Pastoral Care. In 1997 she returned to Kingston and was assigned as coordinator of Marian II infirmary. In 2000 she began volunteering in Pastoral Care at Providence Manor. In 2003 she included assisting with the Art Program at Rideaucrest Nursing Home in Kingston. She continued in these ministries until 2010.
Sister Sheila died peacefully in the infirmary on May 25, 2023 following a brief illness.
Although she had very poor eyesight, she faithfully read the newspaper with the aid of a magnifying glass in order to keep informed of the latest local and international news. Sister Sheila loved her family and they loved her. She looked forward to visiting the farm where she grew up. She was a prayerful, kind and gracious person who was always considerate of others. She accepted peacefully what life presented to her even her immanent death.
The Mass of Christian Burial, held in the Chapel of Mary, Mother of Compassion on May 31, 2023 was presided over by Friar Ed Debono, OFM Conv., who also delivered the homily. Burial was at St. Mary’s Cemetery, Kingston.