Sheila Cremins dePasquale McKibbin
SHEILA CREMINS DEPASQUALE MCKIBBIN March 31, 1926 July 15, 2015 Sheila Cremins dePasquale McKibbin passed peacefully into God's hands on July 15 in Pinehurst, North Carolina after a heroic battle with brain cancer. Sheila was preceded by the love of her life and husband, George and recently by her eldest son, Pete. She is survived by her seven children, Michael, Sheila, Adrian, Angus, Sean, Claudia, and Owen as well as their spouses, ten grandchildren, and ten great-grandchildren. Sheila grew up in Westchester, New York, with her parents Eugene and Sheila dePasquale and was the eldest of six children. An avid swimmer and diver, she was taught to swim by Johnny Weissmuller. Sheila graduated from Cornell University in 1947 with a BA in English and was a proud sister of the Alpha Phi sorority. She went on to get her Master's degree in Education from Hofstra University. George McKibbin charmed and changed her life forever. After eight children, they built their dream home in Brookville, New York. Surrounded by a forest, they had a baseball field, basketball court, and a log cabin for all their children. It was a magical life, full of fun, love, and endless laughter. Her husband's sudden passing in 1966 at the young age of 41 led to the temporary move to Hawaii. Sheila felt that the loss they sustained was too much to bear and a change of scenery was desperately needed. Her brother, Gene, went to college at Kansas State and had formed a great and enduring friendship with his fellow football teammate who happened to be from Honolulu. Eddie Hamada, known to us as Uncle Eddie, was Gene's roommate and they became close and life-long friends. Uncle Eddie would work at their father's business on Long Island during college breaks and he and Sheila became friends. Sheila contacted Eddie and made the plan to move to Hawaii. Another charmed life bloomedgreat friends and amazing schools eased the pain and it became their permanent home. Starting her career at the age of 47, 'Iolani School gave her the opportunity to teach for 32 years. After stints of English, World History, and Geography. Sheila retired at the age of 79. She loved to impart knowledge and help her students to achieve not only academic success but garner a sense of pride and integrity in all of their pursuits. Sheila valued education above all else and was so grateful to have had her children graduate from Iolani, Punahou, HPA, and Mid-Pac as well as numerous colleges and Universities. She gave unselfishly of her time, counseling many to have a strong sense of self and faith. Sheila helped her students believe in themselves so they could take the risks necessary to realize their goals and potential. For the greater part of her children's lives, Sheila was their only parent. She made all of her children feel as though they were her only child. She could be found behind the soccer goal, cheering on Angus to protect the goal, at the pool rooting for Sheila, at the track for Pete and Claudia, on the soccer field with Adrian, Michael, and Owen, and at the tennis courts pulling for Sean. She worked tirelessly, never complained, loved everyone around her, taught and inspired with her unconditional love, compassion, respect, honesty, and integrity. She loved and adored her family, numerous friends and students and they loved her right back. A precious soul and role model, the world was and is a much better place because of the way she chose to live. Visitation will take place on Friday, August 14th at 1:30 p.m. at Star of the Sea Church, where Sheila was a parishioner. A memorial mass will begin at 2:30 p.m. A celebration of Sheila's life will be held on Saturday, August 15th at 8:00 a.m. at Outrigger Canoe Club. In lieu of flowers, donations to be made payable to Iolani School, 563 Kamoku Street, Honolulu, HI 96826; please note the donation to: The Sheila McKibbin Memorial Scholarship Endowment, which has been established to assist children of single parents.
Our deepest condolences to the family and friends of the deceased
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