Obituary: ​Sheena Katharine Devine, 81, of Southbury

Information via Munson-Lovetere Funeral Home

Sheena Katharine Devine, 81, peacefully surrounded by family, passed away on Saturday, July 1st. She lived a rich life.

Sheena was born November 7, 1935 in London, England. As a child, she was evacuated from London during The Blitz. In short order, Sheena was adopted by the late Ruth Frewer and grew up in Leeds where Ms. Frewer was a teacher at Leeds Girls High School. She graduated from Leeds Girls High School and then Yorkshire College,

Sheena came to the United States in 1959 where she met Octavio Luis Gonzalez. They were married on October 12, 1961 and soon added two daughters who they raised in Forest Hills, NY. Sadly Octavio passed away in 1976.

Sheena worked in the test kitchen of Ladies Home Journal and as an Editorial Assistant in the Food Department of Family Circle Magazine. She was an active volunteer at St. Luke’s Church in Forest Hills.
Sheena retired to Heritage Village, Southbury, Connecticut in 1996. She enjoyed traveling, making two trips to New Zealand, numerous trips to England to visit friends and her brother Ian Devine and his wife Jean, and traveling to British Columbia, to visit her siblings Roselyn Gillies, Russell Devine and Stuart Gillies .

Sheena is survived by her daughters Christina Gellman (Simsbury) and Katharine Schnyder (Southbury), her sons-in-law Stephen Gellman and Walter Schnyder and four grandchildren Michael and Brian Gellman and Jane and Lucy Schnyder, who were the loves of her life.

The family wishes to thank Sheena’s wonderful caregivers who supported her during a two year struggle with ALS -- including Valerie Hartman, the staff of River Glen Health Care Center, Southbury, Regional Hospice in Danbury and the Connecticut ALS Association.

A memorial service will be held at United Church of Christ, Southbury on August 19. Family will receive friends after the service. All are welcome.

In lieu of flowers, donations in her honor may be made to either the ALS Association (http://www.alsa.org/) or CT Public Television (http://www.cptv.org)