Earlier I wrote an article about Sheila, an extraordinary young woman who had given much to the aging network and to older people before her death in a tragic automobile accident. Her family appreciated the tribute I wrote about her. Her colleagues decided to dedicate a garden area to her at the Cache Valley Apartments in Ullin and asked me to say a few words about her at the memorial service in September.

I wanted to tell everyone at the service about her successes in life. Booker T. Washington, a 19th century educator, said, “Success is to be measured not so much by the position that one has reached in life as by the obstacles that one has overcome while trying to succeed.”

Sheila overcame many obstacles in her life in order to succeed. Her life was not easy. She did not have a formal education, for example, but she didn’t let that stop her. Instead, she chose a field of work which she loved, working with older people. She excelled through hard work, dedication, determination, learning from others, and perseverance.

She started out as an assistant activity director in a nursing home. Later, she became an outreach worker for the senior citizens center, and then obtained the job of area supervisor for a homemaker service. At the homemaker service she was promoted to regional supervisor of twenty or so counties. Sheila overcame many obstacles as she made her way up in her career.

She knew that as a supervisor her entire office staff must work together as a team. She liked to say, “Together everyone achieves more, and the first letter of each of these words spells team.” She had learned from others that it’s easier to achieve success through teamwork. But, she liked to have fun, too, at home and at work. She made sure everyone around her had fun, also. Her storytelling was priceless.

General Colin Powell once said, “There are no secrets to success: Don’t waste time looking for them. Success is the result of perfection, hard work, learning from failure, loyalty to those for whom you work, and persistence.” These words describe Sheila. She never stopped learning from others and she never took no for a final answer.

There is a story of a man who once stood before God, his heart breaking from the pain and injustice in the world. He asked God, “Look at all the suffering, anguish, and distress in the world. Why don’t you send help?” God responded to the man, “I did send help. I sent you.”

I believe Sheila was sent to relieve a bit of the suffering, anguish, and distress in her small part of the world. She did her best to help others who needed her. We can’t ask any more of anyone.

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