Sheila Frances Day

Sheila Frances Day, age 82, of Sturbridge, MA passed on September 28, 2024 surrounded by her family at the The Overlook Masonic Center in Charlton, MA after a long life filled with compassion for others. 

Sheila was born in Rexton, New Brunswick, Canada on January 21, 1942. She was the daughter of the late William and Muriel (Fraser) Gallagher. Sheila graduated from Collège Notre-Dame d'Acadie, Moncton, New Bruswick, Canada in 1959. At twenty-one years old, Sheila moved to Massachusetts to work as a nanny. She then earned her paralegal certificate and worked at Sylvania in Danvers, MA. She married and settled in Lynnfield, MA where she raised her three sons. Sheila worked as a waitress for over 30 years at different restaurants including Valle’s Steak House (Saugus), Venetian Garden Restaurant (Dorchester), and the Downtown Club (Boston). Sheila worked her whole life to provide for her sons and never once thought of herself. After moving to Sturbridge in 2003, Sheila worked at the YMCA daycare in Southbridge, MA where everyone (staff and children alike) fondly called her “Nana” and left in 2009 to care for her youngest grandson after his birth. Sheila was the consummate “helper” – always asking what someone needed and jumping into action to assist. 

The last half of Sheila’s life were clearly her happiest years with the births of her grandchildren and watching the success of her three sons as they grew in their careers and families. She was always so proud of their accomplishments and was grateful that she was able to enjoy her successful grandchildren who she loved dearly. Sheila loved visiting her grandchildren, watching their musical performances, sports games and was so proud of how well they all performed in school. The legacy she leaves is in all the lives she touched in the jobs she held and in the neighborhoods she lived, and the compassion she always showed to those in need. Sheila’s “home” was always Canada, and she was always happiest visiting her sisters, brother, and all of her extended family, which she did as often as possible. Sheila always enjoyed watching the Red Sox. She was an active member of the Sturbridge Senior Center for several years where she made many friends, organized their lending library, participated in their knitting group and enjoyed lunch out with the ladies once a week until the pandemic. 

Sheila was the beloved wife of the late Robert E. Day. She is survived by her three children Robert M. Aldenberg and his wife Carolyn of Alexandria, VA, William B. Aldenberg and his wife Deanna of Sturbridge, MA, Allen D. Aldenberg and his wife Emily of Manchester, NH and step-daughter Debra Roberts and her husband, Glenn. She was the adoring grandmother of Hunter, Trevor, William, Paige, Emma, Fraser, Kendal, and Erik. She was the loving sister of Gailya Bourque and her husband Paul of Moncton, New Brunswick, Canada, Carole Dixon and her husband Boyd of Grande-Digue, New Brunswick, Canada, and Michael Gallagher and his wife Janet of Rexton, New Brunswick, Canada. She is also survived by several loving nieces and nephews, their children and extended family. 

Her family offers its gratitude for the love and care shown by her home caregivers during the pandemic. Sheila’s entire family is also deeply appreciative of the wonderful care she received from the devoted staff of nurses, CNAs, food service workers and housekeepers at The Overlook on SNF3. They are all so kind and compassionate.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at Our Lady of the Assumption Church, corner of Grove and Salem Sts., Lynnfield, MA on Wednesday, October 2 at 12PM. Interment will follow at Forest Hill Cemetery, Lynnfield. 

In lieu of flowers please make donations to the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and the Jimmy Fund, P.O. Box 849168, Boston, MA 02284-9168

Arrangements are in the care of the McDonald Funeral Home, Wakefield.