Sheila Mary Flannery

Sheila Mary Flannery, age 81, died on October 29, 2023 in Durham, NC, surrounded with love and her four children. She was born on September 21, 1942 to the late Mona Campbell O’Kane and Dr. Felix O’Kane in Ballynahinch, N. Ireland.

Sheila lived much of her life in the United States and her love of Ireland remained with her as did her lively Irish accent. Sheila brought a cheerful and deeply optimistic passion for life, and engaged in the world with honesty, faith and a level of integrity that was treasured by all who knew her.

She loved dancing, soulful music, travel and new adventures, and sharing time with friends and family - though there wasn’t a stranger in her world: Sheila met every person (and animal) as someone to get to know more deeply. Her eyes carried a characteristic twinkle and her cheeks a rosy glow that warmed the hearts of many and brightened even more when she was with her grandchildren who she adored.

Sheila was a cardiopulmonary physical therapist at Emory and UNC Hospitals, a Masters graduate in Rehabilitation Counseling from UNC-Chapel Hill, a graduate from the University of Ulster, and a local leader in the Carl Jung Society, St. Thomas More, and The Holistic Nurses Group. She felt strongly about human rights, health and wellbeing, long term change for those in poverty, and environmental protections, and she tried to lessen the suffering around her through her career and volunteer commitments.

Sheila is survived by her children Dr. Clare Flannery; Una Kelley and her husband Ryan; Deirdre Fleming and her husband Keith; and Conor Flannery and his wife Joél, and her seven grandchildren. She is also survived by her siblings in N. Ireland and Australia, Fr. Hugh O’Kane, Monica Flynn, Dr. Brendan O’Kane, Clare Loughery, Paul O’Kane, and Fergus O’Kane. She was preceded in death by her former spouse, Dr. Raymond Flannery.

A funeral mass and Celebration of Life reception is planned:

November 21, 2023 at 2:30pm

St. Thomas More Catholic Church

940 Carmichael St.

Chapel Hill, NC 27514

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Environment North Carolina at https://environmentamerica.org/northcarolina/