Birth date: Apr 5, 1936 Death date: Mar 4, 2021
On Thursday, March 4, 2021, Sheila Marie Duarte passed away at the age of 84 in Leesburg VA after a short illness. Sheila was born on April 5, 1936 at Sibley Memorial Hospital in Washington DC to Henri and Julia Sappèy. She was a Read Obituary
Sheila was such a pleasure to work with, always helpful and she had a wonderful sense of humor. She will be missed.
Dear, dear Sheila- What an inspiration and always so helpful!!
Such a wonderful person! I worked at DFS but have been with the Agency on Aging the longest. Sheila was always a delight to speak with! I'll miss you!
Mary Jane Barney-Butler
I enjoyed enjoyed working with Sheila. As my "side-kick," we would sometimes get carried away laughing until we almost cried. But she also had a serious side. She was a wealth of knowledge, and was always willing to share that with both co-workers and clients.
It was interesting to hear Sheila talk about growing up in Washington, D.C. She was a street-smart, strong-willed woman, someone who earned a lot of respect from those of us working at Family Services. She never forgot people's birthdays. She carried the weight of the world on her shoulders at times, but she never gave up.
Though she may not have realized it, I appreciated how deeply she loved her family.
She was always excited to bring in the latest pictures of them. I think one of the highlights during our time working together was seeing her so proud and happy when her grandson graduated from medical school,
Finally, the most powerful thing I remember about Sheila would be her strong faith. She was proud to be a Catholic, and was a very dedicated, active member of St. John's Church in Leesburg,. Although she never said so, I believe she felt more at home there than anywhere else. Sheila would often be at her desk in quiet prayer, so to keep from disturbing her, I would I tiptoe past her desk. When I learned that she had been going to Adorations late at night, I expressed my concern for her safety. She said she wasn't afraid, because she knew God was watching over her.
I never knew anyone like Sheila. She was funny, strong, caring, stubborn at times, smart, understanding, empathetic, religious, a good teacher, a wonderful mother figure to members of our staff, and most of all, a devoted mother, aunt, grandmother, and great-grandmother.
Sheila will be greatly missed. She's finally with God, which is where I believe she has always wanted to be. God bless her and her family.
It’s hard to comprehend that Sheila is gone but, she left so many memories that will last for ever. I will always remember Sheila as a strong, hard working, caring woman who family was always first. Rest In Peace my friend.
PAX unto the family
I love you mom❤️Michael
Sheila was a beautiful person inside and out, very caring and giving. She stood for what was right and was always helping the less fortunate. It’s was an honor to have worked with Sheila for so many years. Sheila would always pray for my little girl and now they are together in paradise. My condolences and prayers to the family, till we meet again Sheila. Love always Blanca Henriquez and family.
I am so sorry for your loss. I worked with Sheila at Family Services for many years. She made me laugh often. I truly enjoyed working with her. My thoughts and prayers go out to you.
Debbie Eaton, LC Dept. of Family Services.
You were one of the strongest woman I ever had the pleasure of knowing. Rest in Peace Sheila. Until we meet again.
I had the pleasure to work directly with Sheila, she was amazing, very strong, very funny and it was a blast every time she shared a story with us. She was a hardworking woman who deserves all my respect, she showed up for work without complains up to the last minute. I am so sorry to hear of her passing, my deepest condolences are with her family. People say "when you lose someone you love, you gain an angel you know" and I know Sheila will be definitely an angel that will always accompany her family.
Michelle S.
