Obituary of Sheila Mary Walsh Dolezal

Sheila Mary Walsh Dolezal left to join our Lord Jesus Christ on January 19, 2021.  She was a resident of Glendale Nursing Home since August 22, 2016.

Sheila was a beautiful, loveable person.  She loved people and especially children.  She was born in a hospital in the Bronx, NY on October 5, 1932 but lived and grew up in New Jersey.  She attended Oak Knoll School of the Holy Child in Summit, NJ and the College of Saint Elizabeth, graduating in 1954 with a degree in Business Administration.   

Right after graduation, Sheila and Francis Dale Dolezal were married in Saint Teresa’s Church in Summit.  Francis had served 4 years in the Navy and was attending Rutgers University for a degree in Engineering.  Sheila and Francis lived in campus housing for 3 years and after graduation moved to Schenectady, NY where Francis was hired by the Knolls Atomic Power Lab and where he worked for the next 36 years.  

Sheila gave birth to 5 children from 1955 to 1965, Gregory, Thomas, Laura, Patricia, and Marydale.  Gregory died in 2008.  When Sheila died, she had 13 grandchildren and two great grandchildren.  

Sheila worked for a few years as a teacher’s aide for the Schenectady and Niskayuna school districts and a bookkeeper for the law firm of Lynch, Kaehler, and Bates for 5 years.  However, she was primarily a volunteer in her church and community.

At the Immaculate Conception Church in Glenville, NY, she was the vice president of the Rosary Altar Society, member of the Burnt Hills – Ballston Lake Interchurch Council, Treasurer of the Altar Society, member of the Parish Counsel, President of the St. Vincent DePaul Society, Religious Education volunteer, and Pre-Cana team member for the Albany Diocese.  Sheila also was a volunteer for the Sunnyview Hospital Toy Program, chairman of Pashley School Library volunteers, chairman of costumes for the Pashley Players (now known as the Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake Children’s Theater), and president of the Junior High (Burnt Hills O’Rourke Middle School) PTA.  Sheila was a volunteer at the Schenectady Soup Kitchen, a member of the Glenville Planning and Zoning Board, as well as the Assessment Advisory Committee.  Sheila spent many hours in Saint Clare’s Hospital as a volunteer in the Day Care School and in the Critical Care Unit.

In 1976, Sheila was presented with the BH-BL PTA Founders Day Award for her efforts in achieving road safety for Junior High (Middle School) students on Lakehill Road.  

Sheila made many friends during her life because of her love for people, her lovable nature, and her constant will to be helpful to others.  She was also devoted to her husband, Francis (Dale) of 66 years and to her family.

Sheila is predeceased by her husband of 67 years, Francis Dale Dolezal, parents Robert and Julia Walsh, her brother Robert Walsh, and her son Gregory Dale Dolezal.

Sheila is survived by her son E. Thomas Dolezal of Scotia, her daughters Laura McCoig (Jim) of Glen Allen, VA, Patty Neumann (Gary) of Burnt Hills, and Marydale Leonard (Michael) of Laguna Niguel, CA., her grandchildren:  Melinda Dolezal, Robert E. Dolezal (Annie), Alisha Neumann-Flannery (Patrick), Austin McCoig, Phillip (Sarah Buck) Neumann, Heather (Trey) McCoig-Tarr, Christine Neumann, Molly McCoig, David Dolezal, Danielle Neumann, Samuel McCoig, Thomas Leonard, and Grace Leonard; and her great granddaughters Ruth-Ellen Dolezal and Olivia Flannery.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Monday, June 21^st  10AM at the Church of Immaculate Conception in Glenville. Burial will follow Mass at Gerald B.H. Solomon Saratoga National Cemetery, where she will be laid to rest with her beloved husband of 67 years, Francis.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in Sheila’s name may be made to Birthright of Schenectady, 12 Jay St., Suite 1, Schenectady, NY 12305.