Sheila Marie Somers

Sheila Marie Somers, 86, ended her earthly journey to join her family in heaven on Thursday, September 14, 2023 at Citadel of Bourbonnais, where she has been a resident for the past 15 years. Sheila was born at St. Mary’s Hospital, Kankakee, on August 18, 1937, to George “Happy” & Inez (Hart) Somers. As an infant, she was diagnosed with cerebral palsy and hearing loss. Despite her disabilities, she graduated from St. Patrick Grade School and St. Patrick High School. She was a parishioner of St. Patrick Catholic Church and St. Martin of Tours Church. (Now St. John Paul II) Her greatest joy in life was her family, especially her nieces and nephews. She spent hours caring for them and loving them. She was always there for them. Visits from her great nieces and great nephews always brought a smile to her face. Her love for her family and our love for her will continue into eternity. Sheila is survived by her sister and brother-in-law, Suzanne & David Kelly of Kankakee; brother, Francis “Pat” Somers of Roswell, GA; nieces, Andrea (Brian) Sexton of Bourbonnais, Alison (Neil) Hantak of Milford, OH, and Austin (Ryan) Beaton of Simpsonville, SC; nephews, Christopher (Elisabeth) Kelly of White Lake, MI, Logan (Kayla) Somers of St. Petersburg, FL, Jeff (Laura) Somers of Crystal Lake, and Theodore Somers of Chicago; great nieces, Vivien Sexton, Laurel Kelly, Matthea Kelly, and Blake Beaton; great nephews, Keegan Hantak, Griffin Hantak, Riley Hantak, Collin Sexton, and Conway Beaton; a very special cousin “sister” and caregiver and her husband, Sharyl & Donald Richmond and their children, also very special to Sheila, Brien (Melissa) Richmond of Indianapolis, IN, Todd (Lisa) Richmond of Manteno, and Nicole (Bryan) Gray of Kankakee, along with their children, Tyler and Ainsley Richmond, Emily (Lenny) Baumann, Kaitlyn and Trevor Gray; and numerous cousins. Sheila was preceded in death by her parents; infant sister, Virginia Mary; brother, George “Bill” Somers, infant nephew, Matthew David Kelly; infant great-nephew, Connor David Sexton; and a very special aunt, Virginia (Louis) Labarge. In her final years, Sheila was unable to hear, visually impaired and confined to a wheelchair. Despite all this, she continued to smile, have a kind word, and did not complain about what god had chosen for her in life. Her family will miss her but rejoice that she is forever free of her infirmities and reuniting with all her heavenly family. We will miss you, Sheila, and love you forever. A funeral Mass will be celebrated at 11:00 a.m. on Monday, September 25, 2023 by Father John Peeters at St. Patrick Catholic Church in Kankakee. Burial will follow at Mt. Calvary Cemetery in Kankakee. The family would like to thank the staff of Citadel of Bourbonnais for their many years of caring for Sheila and Uplifted Care of Bourbonnais for their care and kindness to Sheila and her family during the final weeks of her life. Arrangements by Clancy-Gernon-Hertz Funeral Home in Kankakee. Please sign her guestbook at www.clancygernon.com.

Sheila Marie Somers

August 18, 1937 - September 14, 2023