Sheila Nanes, 86, formerly of Oregon, Ohio died peacefully at Heartland of Perrysburg on Thursday, December 12, 2013. She was born on September 1, 1927 in Blackburn, Lancashire England to Evelyn (Melling) and Barton Brown. At a young age she and her family moved to the seaside resort Blackpool which Sheila considered her home town. While at the popular dance tower, The Winter Gardens, in December of 1944 she met the love of her life, her beloved Johnny, who was serving at Warton Airforce Base. He asked shyly if he could sit down on the empty seat next to her. In her typical feisty manner she responded, “do as you please; it’s a free country.” She and John were married the following July in 1945 and honeymooned in Edinburgh, Scotland. Shortly afterwards, John was shipped to France for deployment back to the states.
In April of 1946, Sheila at the age of eighteen left home and traveled on the “President Tyler” bound for the U.S. Little did she know she would be coming not to an American community, but to the Birmingham sector of East Toledo. Homesick and not speaking the predominant language of the community, Hungarian, she persevered through many difficult times, but honored her marriage vows by staying with her husband when many warbrides ended their marriages and returned to England. Although always proud to be English, she became a naturalized citizen and adopted The United States as her home.
Sheila, determined to return home to visit, went to work as a secretary, and after ten years saved enough money to go back to England accompanied by her husband and daughter. She was able to cross the Atlantic eight more times throughout the years until 1999, her last trip back. In addition to these overseas trips, she greatly enjoyed attending BAD Air Force reunions held throughout the country. These reunions were comprised of former American soldiers, like her husband, who served in the Eighth Air Force stationed at Wharton Air Base during WWII. These trips afforded her not only the opportunity to travel to many parts of the country, but to also meet up with other women, some warbrides, who shared similar experiences. Unfortunately, after returning home from England in 1999, Sheila’s health declined and she was no longer able to travel any great distance.
Sheila was truly an artistic individual. Extremely musical, Sheila played the piano, sang solos, and was a choir director. Her greatest love was singing in the Toledo Opera chorus. Although only a chorus member, Sheila studied a particular opera score as if she had a leading role. By the time of dress rehearsal she knew the music thoroughly. In addition to music, Sheila was a talented artist, her favorite medium being water colors. Many paintings depicted the lush garden scenes of the English countryside she remembered so well. Other paintings were illustrations based on stories and poems she learned as a child. Always an avid reader and writer, she composed and illustrated fairy tales for her young daughter. Sheila Evelyn remembers to this day the beautiful chiffons, velvets, and taffeta which made up these one of a kind dresses for her vocal performances. Watching television with John in the evening, Sheila was always knitting sweaters and scarves, embroidering, cross stitching or hooking rugs. She could never be idle and taught her daughter by example, “If something is worth doing, it’s worth doing well.”
Sheila greatly loved her two grandchildren Brittany Jo and Rodger. Sheila always said that her granddaughter reminded her so much of herself. This was especially true with regards to Brittany’s acting and singing abilities. Being of similar minds, Brittany and her grandmother had many philosophical discussions. She thought of Rodger as the son she never had.
In addition, her great grandchildren, Spencer and Sofia, were always of great importance to her. Even at the end Sheila was concerned about them and asked how they were.
Sheila was preceded in death by her loving husband, Johnny, her parents, and her younger brother, Dennis. Surviving to cherish her memory is her daughter, Sheila Evelyn (John) Nye; grandchildren, Brittany Jo Marciniak and Rodger (Amy) Marciniak and great-grandchildren, Spencer Fitzgerald Lowe and Sofia Evelyn Lowe.
Mother, while I write this with a heavy heart, I am consoled by the realization that you and my dad are together again. For nearly eight months you have been separated; more time than ever before in the sixty eight years you were together. As my dad wrote in the Christmas card he sent to you in December 1945, “I pray to God that He will grant that we will soon be together, never more to part.” As you always said, my dad had the uncanny ability to be right most of the time. I know he was right about this and that the two of you will be together for eternity.
And as you and dad reunite, I can hear Andrea Bocelli singing the words, “Con te Partiró” – “With You I will Depart… to countries I never knew and shared with you. On ships across seas I know do not exist anymore… I’ll go with you. I with you.”
Good night and God bless my dear mother. Until we meet again.
The family wishes to express thanks to some very special people at Heartland of Perrysburg who have traveled this journey with us.
The Funeral Service will begin at 2:00 p.m. on Tuesday, December 17, 2013 at Freck Funeral Chapel, 1155 S Wynn Rd., Oregon. A private burial will take place at Willow Cemetery. In lieu of floral displays, condolences can be expressed by donations in Sheila’s name to Calvin United Church of Christ or a charity of the donor’s choice.