Sheila McGrath Jacobsen, 48, Formerly of Tewksbury

Obituary and photo courtesy of Tewksbury Funeral Home.

TEWKSBURY - Sheila McGrath Jacobsen, R.N., B.S.N., 48, formerly of Tewksbury, died unexpectedly on Wednesday, June 15, at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, from surgical complications in an attempt to remove a brain tumor.

She was the beloved wife of Richard E. Jacobsen Jr., with whom she would have celebrated a twenty-first wedding anniversary on Friday, June 17. Sheila was born in Lowell, on June 20, 1967, one of three children of Claire (Sullivan) McGrath of Derry, and the late Bernard “Freddy” McGrath. She was raised in Tewksbury, and graduated from Notre Dame Academy in Tyngsboro with the Class of 1985.

She went on to New England Baptist School of Nursing, received a B.S.N. degree, and earned her certification as a Registered Nurse. In addition to raising two sons, she had worked the Cardiac I.C.U. at Boston Medical Center for over twenty years, and held membership in the Mass Nursing Association.

Besides her husband and mother, she leaves two sons, Samuel E. Jacobsen and Timothy R. Jacobsen, both of Derry; a brother Michael S. McGrath and his wife Sandra (Gilchrest) of Pepperell; two sisters, Kristen M. Pepe and her husband Michael of Watertown, and Emma K. McGrath of Sterling; her father-in-law, Richard E. Jacobsen Sr., and his wife Colleen of Halifax; her sisters in law and brothers in law and many aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, and cousins.

Visiting hours will be held Monday, June 20, from 4:00 until 8:00 p.m. in the Tewksbury Funeral Home, on the corner of 1 Dewey and 975 Main St., (Rte.38) in Tewksbury, Ph. (800 in MA or 978) 851 2950. Her funeral will begin Tuesday at 9:00 a.m. from the funeral home, followed by a Funeral Mass Tuesday, June 21, at 10:00 a.m. in St. William’s Church, 1351 Main St. (Rte. 38) Tewksbury. Burial in St. Mary’s Cemetery, No. Tewksbury.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Mass Nurses Foundation Scholarship Fund, www.massnurses.org, 340 Turnpike Street Canton, Ma 02021 tewksburyfuneralhome.com