Sadly, Sheila Venard has lost her 20-year battle with breast cancer. She passed away at her home in Harpswell on April 25 in the presence of her husband, Bob Venard, and two daughters, Erin Venard, of Waltham, Massachusetts, and Emma Venard, of Phoenix, Arizona. She died peacefully and with no pain.
Sheila was born in Orange, New Jersey, on Dec. 15, 1954, to Gerald and Muriel Fanning. She grew up in West Orange, New Jersey, and attended Our Lady of the Valley Grammar and High School. She graduated in June of 1972. She was one of 10 children raised by Gerald and Muriel at their home in West Orange.
After high school graduation, she worked in accounting at Foster Wheeler in Livingston, New Jersey, and attended two years of community college. In 1987 she met, and later married, Bob, who was a financial industry consultant. His work assignments allowed them to live in lovely places, including Indonesia, Hong Kong, Japan, Mexico and Peru. While living in Mexico, they adopted their two children and moved back to the USA. They bought a home in Harpswell and began raising their children.
Sheila volunteered for many activities with both the Islands School and the Middle School. She loved watching her daughters participate in sports and was always available to drive many miles to take them to meets or practices. Her unconditional love will be with us forever.
Private family services will be held later. Memorial donations can be made to the American Cancer Society or the Dana Farber Cancer Institute
