Sheila Ann (Becker) Gailius
Sheila Ann (Becker) Gailius, of Milton, March 9, 2014. Beloved wife of 21 years of Gib Gailius. Daughter of Cecilia and the late Robert L. Becker of Ashland. Mother of Tim, Caroline, Jeffrey, Jeanna, Jonathan and Kevin. Sister of Teresa Martinez and her husband David of Providence, RI. (and aunt to their children Michael, Christina, Marianna, John and James), Ed Becker and his wife Dawn of Lutz, FL (and aunt to their children Claire and Grace), and Fr. Dan Becker of Warren, MA. Daughter-in-law of Gil and Lil Gailius of Sanibel, FL. Sister-in-law to Greg and Loretta Gailius of Newton (and aunt to Vanessa), Gary and Laura August of Carlsbad, CA (and aunt to their children Dana, Barrett and Brent), Toby and Louise Duys of Derry, NH (and aunt to their children Andrea, Danny and Sarah), Bob and Linda Adams of Falmouth, ME (and aunt to their children Maddy, Ellie and Charlie) and Gary and Tatiana Gailius of Phoenix, AZ (and aunt to Leo). Sheila was a dedicated French, Spanish and ESL teacher to thousands of students over her 30 years at Boston College High School and 3 years at Notre Dame Academy of Hingham. Visiting hours at Boston College High School on Friday, March 14 from 4:00 to 8:00 p.m. Funeral Mass at Boston College High School on Saturday, March 15 at 10:00 a.m., followed by burial at Milton Cemetery. Sheila had a special love for the country and people of Haiti, making three trips over the years to help bring health care and solar energy to impoverished communities. In lieu of flowers, Sheila and Gib kindly request a contribution to Let’s Share the Sun Foundation which will provide a decorated solar lantern with your family name to be displayed at the wake and then transported to schoolchildren and their families in Haiti. www.letssharethesun.org
Guestbook Entries
Very sorry for your loss. Ms. Becker (as I knew her) was a great teacher, motivator and person. She was my French teacher for 3 years and encouraged me to take part in the exchange program which was a truly transformative experience. La paix de Dieu soit avec vous.
Sheila always a bright light…warm, funny, giving of herself to so many. In many ways, I thought of her as a missionary…seeking out those unfortunate, overlooked, needing a helping hand. Sheila assisted so many in a quiet way…no splashy self indulgence.
Her spirit will live on through her family….
I am saddened and heart-broken as I write from Paris about the passing of this wonderful mentor who taught me AP French in my senior year at BC High and encouraged me to pursue French and France with the same passion that she had. Sheila was about the most talented French professor I had and she cared so much about all her students so much. I am grateful for what I learned from her and would like to express my sincere condolences to her husband and their six children. God Bless you all.
I am so sorry for your loss, please accept my sincere condolences at this time. Sheila will surely be missed. She touched the lives of many. Won’t it be a blessing when the Bible’s promise is fulfilled when we can see our dead loved ones again.
Something that I have found to be a great source of comfort are the thoughts expressed in the Bible at John 5:28,29 where we see that there is going to be a resurrection of those who have fallen asleep in death. Also Revelation 21:4 we see that God is going to eliminate all of the causes for why we deal with sorrow, pain and even death itself. It is my sincere hope that these thoughts bring your family, comfort at this time. Once again I am so sorry for your loss.
Dear Gib and family,
What a truly inspirational person your Sheila was. She so beautifully demonstrated how to live and how to die, continually sharing with us all.
My son, Conor Walsh ’08, was privileged and more importantly blessed to have had Sheila in his life as teacher, mentor and friend. Her passion and love for language inspired him to graduate form college with a degree in linguistics and earn an advanced degree in Irish Language Planning. His success is in direct correlation with Sheila’s innate ability to develop excellence in not only Conor but all her students at BC High. She was the integral component in Conor’s goal to advocate for endangered languages. What a legacy for Sheila.
The world is a better place because of Sheila. She surely was a ‘woman for others’. May you find peace and solace in knowing just how many people loved her, will miss her and will forever be indebted to her.
Sincerely,
Sheila L. McGoldrick
My heart goes out to my favorite family! I am so sad to hear of Sheila’s passing. In the little time I knew her, I remember her to be always smiling and so pleasant to talk to. This must be the most difficult thing for a family to endure. We are praying for you all. There is some comfort in the strength of your beautiful family! – Love to you all from Germany, -Emily, Bob, James and Alessandra
I exchanged only one email with Sheila, yet when I read it I could hear a voice…My daughter has been blessed to become dear friends with Caroline, also a freshman diver at Fairfield. While reading about Sheila, I saw Caroline…warm, smart, giving, STRONG, and full of positive energy and a zest for life. What a beautiful gift Caroline has received from both her parents! How we live never truly passes on, for it transcends to generations that follow. That is our gift to the world. The gift given to us is when we meet again. Take it gently. The depth of your sorrow reflects the depth of your love. Smile at the memories, share the gifts, and remember the days are not done.
I was saddened to hear of such a loss. I am so sorry that your family has to go through this. I was at Disney this weekend and thought of Sheila all weekend. I was blessed to have known her from NDA in Hingham and then was lucky enough to be with you delivering two of your babies at the Brigham. God Bless and will be sending thoughts and prayers your way.
“Miss Becker” as I knew her then was one of my favorite teachers at Hingham’s Notre Dame Academy. I was fortunate enough to be part of a very small AP French class she led around 1981/82 and remember well her remarkable patience and humor in dealing with us sometimes ‘trying’ teenage girls. In retrospect, she was not much older than we were at the time and did a fantastic job. I wish I had had the opportunity to reach out later in life to thank her and to let her know just how memorable she was to me. Repose en paix, Mademoiselle Becker~ Je me souviendrai de toi.
Gibby, Jim and I are so sad and heartbroken for you and your children. Please know that we care and are praying for you and ask God to help you through this tough time. Sorry we are away and will not be able to attend the service.
Love, Jim and Sue
Dear Gibb,
Words are of little help at a time like this, but Steve and I want to
send you are deepest sympathy on the death of your beloved
Sheila.
She was a wonderful wife, mother and devoted teacher. May you find comfort in knowing others share in your sorrow.
With love,
Fran and Steve
Hi Gib, very saddened to hear of your loss. My thoughts and prayers to you and your family. Stay strong.
My son Mark Malone’15 and I are sorry for your loss.
So very sorry to hear this sad news. Sheila was always such a devoted teacher. Our condolences to you and your family.
Arthur and Mary Lou Bradley
Our thoughts and prayers are with you and your family during this very difficult time. God bless from Kathy, Anthony, Julia and Joseph Tricca
Caroline and family,
I was deeply saddened to learn of the passing of your mom. What an incredibly beautiful lady!
Please know that you and your family are in my prayers; God willing, the many wonderful memories you have will add much support during this very difficult time.
With sincere sympathy,
Mrs. Tomase
Our dear Gibby,
Our dear Gibby
We’re sure our whole Hayward Mill – Border Rd – Thoreau Hills neighborhood of your childhood joins us in expressing our condolences on your deep loss. We wish you, your children, and all the marvelous Gailius clan comfort in your sorrow, sacred memories of our time together in Concord, and much love across the years and miles. A special “Hi”! to Lil and Gil!
From Elizabeth and Ted Alcaide, Amherst, MA
and Fawn, Grand Junction, CO and Howie Orange, MA
I am so sorry to hear of Sheila’s death. I was one of her English teachers at Marian High back in the ’70’s (as I was of her siblings as well). She and Teresa have stayed especially strong in my memory as members of a wonderful class, the Class of 1976. My most incandescent memory is not of her in the classroom, however, a place where she excelled, but of her and Teresa in the Senior Talent Show, playing a Handel violin sonata with piano accompaniment. It was typical of the class they always showed. It is not surprising to me that Sheila went on to become an admired teacher in her own right.
My condolences to her mother and Teresa, Eddie, and Dan.
God bless.