Sheila Hayes Coughlin, 64, of Haverhill, MA, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, August 22, 2017 at High Pointe Hospice House from glioblastoma multiforme.
Sheila was born in Manchester, NH and was raised in Newport, RI. She graduated from Rogers High School and received her associate’s degree from North Shore Community College and her bachelor’s degree in social work from Salem State University, both with honors. Sheila married her husband David in 1982 and they were happily married for 35 years. As a stay at home mom, she raised three beautiful daughters in Danvers, MA. Always a selfless and caring individual, Sheila put the upbringing of her children and her love for her husband above her own goals and career. She dedicated her life to helping others, working for many years in Danvers Public Schools as a teacher aide for special needs children. She loved what she did for a living and was loved and respected by the students she taught as well as her coworkers, who were also her dear friends. After her retirement in 2015, she spent much of her time taking care of her grandson Jack and enjoying quality time with her family and friends.
Sheila was a voracious reader and was very active her entire life. She loved taking long bike rides with her husband, long (and very fast) walks with her dog Rex and enjoyed many trips to the beach. She loved to cook and always made sure her family had a delicious home cooked meal waiting for them. Her zest for life never went unnoticed and she always found a way to make those around her laugh and feel loved.
Sheila is survived by her husband David Coughlin, her three daughters Michaela (Jake) Carlson of Haverhill MA, Maggie (Jeremy) Coughlin of New York, NY and Hannah (Jon-Austin) Vest of Dallas, TX, her grandchildren Cole Vest of Dallas, TX and Jack and Brynne Carlson of Haverhill, MA, her eight siblings John (Jan) Hayes of Cape Elizabeth, ME, Margaret (Ed) Hayes of Newport, RI, Charlie (Patty) Hayes of Newport, RI, Connie (Brian) O’Halloran of Milton, MA, Joseph (Heather) Hayes of Cape Elizabeth, ME, Timothy (Diana) Hayes of Newport, RI, Terry (Kim) Hayes of Hailey, ID and Mary Beth (Jay) Garrett of Middletown, RI, and many, many nieces and nephews. She is predeceased by her mother Connie Hayes and her father John Hayes of Newport, RI.
The family would like to thank those who cared for Sheila during her illness and in her final days, especially High Pointe Hospice House in Haverhill, MA and Sheila’s doctors, nurses and the staff at Massachusetts General Hospital, Whittier Rehabilitation Hospital and Holy Family Hospital.
Visiting hours will be on Friday, August 25, 2017 from 4-7pm in the O’Neill-Hayes Funeral Home, 465 Spring Street, Newport, RI. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Saturday, August 26, 2017 at St. Mary’s Church, Spring St., Newport at 10am. Burial will be private.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the American Brain Tumor Association, 8550 W. Bryn Mawr Ave. Ste 550, Chicago, IL 60631, please visit www.abta.org.