One Thing

 Just one thing to remember her by. I only wanted one thing... 😭

Sheilagh Porto Nowacki

 

Sheilagh Marlene Nowacki danced into the arms of Jesus on Tuesday, March 15, 2022 with her loving husband by her side. She was 74 years old.

Sheilagh was born to Louis R. Porto and Dorothy L. (Gardner) Porto on September 12, 1947 in Greenville, South Carolina. A few years later the family moved to New York, and when she was nine they settled in eastern Pennsylvania on a dairy farm. As a child, Sheilagh loved to help her dad in the fields, play with the farm animals and read books.

After completing nurses training, Sheilagh moved to Indiana to attend Goshen College. She met her husband Dean T. Nowacki in 1970 at an off campus praise and worship group, and they were married on August 7, 1971. The couple went on to have two children; a daughter, Lisa and a son, Joel. In 1980 they relocated to Indianapolis for Sheilagh to have a kidney transplant. Upon recovering, she resumed her career as an RN working on the transplant unit at Methodist hospital until her retirement. In 1988 a second transplant was needed.

Music was always a big part of her life. She was a member of a traveling chorus, various small singing groups and she sang on the worship team at her church for many years. In the early 70's she wrote a song that was featured on an album and published in hymnals and songbooks all over the world. She was classically trained in opera, and played piano and guitar. But her favorite musical memories were of singing duets with her dad.

Throughout her life, she held an unwavering faith in God and spent countless hours in intercession for many people. She was a true prayer warrior and a woman of quiet strength even in the face of much suffering. Although her health deteriorated significantly in recent years, Sheilagh didn't complain about the dialysis, loss of mobility or constant pain. She enjoyed watching movies with her husband, knitting, coloring and reading.

Sheilagh joins her parents and son-in-law Steve in Heaven. She is survived by husband Dean, siblings John Porto (Faith) and Mary Sparr (Barry), daughter Lisa Douglas, son Joel Nowacki (Kellie) and five grandchildren; Ellie, Kole, Avery, Ezra and Amara.

"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in trouble with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also abounds through Christ." 2 Corinthians 1:3-5

"The measure of a life, after all, is not its duration, but its donation." ~ Corrie Ten Boom

Our lives go on without you

But nothing is the same

We have to hide our heartache

When someone speaks your name

Sad are the hearts that love you

Silent are the tears that fall

Living without you is the

hardest part of all

You did so many things for us

Your heart was so kind and true

And when we needed someone

We could always count on you

The special years will not return

When we are all together

But with the love in our hearts

You walk with us forever. 💞

Celebrate Life ...

 Two nights in the Williamsburg Christian Retreat then over to our campground for the month of April. Hard to wrap my head around it being April already. Williamsburg Spring and Fall is our stop on the way south and then again on our way back home for the summer months. So many memories there of the kids being young and then with Aunt Julia when she would travel with us and finally with Sheilagh and Dean.

We got our favorite site, met up with some friends and now set up and settled in until the end of the month. Kept the weekend quiet just hung out around the campground. Tomorrow grocery shopping and going to swing around town and reminisce. Memories around every corner. Have to hang on to them as long as we can. Kids grow up and before you know it they aren't kids anymore...they have lives, homes and kids of their own and you become irrelevant. Memories make you smile and memories make you cry...

Thoughts of my sister never leave my mind. It's hard emotionally knowing she's no longer here on earth. I'm sad but I know where she is and I know she would not want to be living here just to be alive, that's not living. Memories flooding my mind. Mayberry Days, we were planning to go back when she was feeling better. Williamsburg, we were planning on meeting up there again and next time we were going to spend more time in town. She's the reason why I know I will see her again one day. We will not be able to travel to Indiana for her Celebration of Life service. Had the date remained the end of May we would have been there but it just isn't possible early in April. 

It's just my brother and me now... have to hug a lot, make sure we say I love you till it's weird... together we'll share memories, drink wine and celebrate; till the end we'll celebrate. 

Celebrate this life...❤