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November 24, 1941 - May 27, 2019
Sheila passed peacefully on the afternoon of May 27th, 2019 with her loving family at her side. She sadly leaves behind her loving Husband of 47 years Dennis Bonwick, Son- Arlan, Step Daughter-Karna (Ian McCulloch) Grandson-Hamish. Step Sons- Alex (Ladi) and Vernon (Robin), Granddaughters-Addison and Scarlett. She was predeceased by her sisters Dolores and Maureen.
Sheila was born November 24th, 1941 in Nanaimo BC to John and Celia Carruthers. After 12 years of schooling in Nanaimo and graduating from Nanaimo Senior High School in 1960, she started 3 years of nurses training at St. Paul's Hospital in Vancouver. She became a Registered Nurse, graduating in 1963.
On returning home to Nanaimo, she started her nursing career in Nanaimo Regional General Hospital that year, shortly after the hospital had opened! She spent most of the next 10 years working in the Operating Room in Nanaimo, but also a year was spent working over at Vancouver General in the OR.
In 1968 her much loved son Arlan was born and Sheila and Arlan later met Dennis Bonwick and his 3 children, Alex, Vernon and Karna. Dennis and Sheila were married and raised this blended family together.
After 15 years away from nursing, it happened that Sheila took a refresher course strictly for OR nursing at the hospital, through BCIT, and she went back to work for approximately another 10 years. She worked casual which was mostly full time between NRGH and Ladysmith Hospital. She retired from nursing when her beloved Grandson Hamish was born in 1997.
Sheila's interests were many over the years. Only a few were... Beta Sigma Phi for over 15 years, The great Nanaimo Toy Drive for 10 years, TOPS for almost 40 years helping members to Take Off Pounds Sensibly and be able to Keep Off Pounds Sensibly.
Sheila favorite time spent were camping with Dennis and a special yearly summer camping trip each summer with Hamish, up to a lake in the Caribou.
The family would like to thank the doctors, nurses and care staff at Nanaimo General Hospital for the kind and thoughtful care offered to Sheila over the past months with special thanks to Palliative Care unit.
A Celebration of Life service will be held at First Memorial Funeral Services, 1720 Bowen Rd, Nanaimo, on Friday June 21 at 1:30 pm.

Service Details

Celebration of Life
Friday, June 21, 2019
1:30 PM
First Memorial Funeral Services, 1720 Bowen Rd, Nanaimo


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