Sheila S. Hanley

Our guiding light flickered one final time on the Feast of St. Luke the Physician, and went out on Tuesday 18 October 2022. Sheila S. Hanley of Daniel Island, formerly of Rhode Island and Connecticut, breathed her last breath and was carried to heaven in the arms of the Angels.

Sheila was the second of three daughters born to the late Patrick J. Shea and Bridie Cronin Shea. Born and raised in Hartford, Connecticut, she graduated from Hartford Public High School and then began a greater than 40 year career with Aetna Insurance Company. She met the love of her life, Robert

W. Hanley of East Hartford, Connecticut at Crescent Beach in Niantic, Connecticut in 1955 and they were married a year later. They celebrated the birth of their only child, Dr. Mary Elizabeth (Mary Beth) in February 1963. Tragically, Bob died suddenly from a cerebral aneurysm in January 1965, just days after his 30th birthday. Sheila was left a widow with a baby at age 30. With the love and support of her parents, sisters and many extended family and friends, she raised her daughter on her own, worked full time and was known and loved by her many nieces and nephews as “Lala”. A devout Catholic, She was active in St. Mary’s Parish in East Hartford, Connecticut for many years and a member of the Ladies Guild, Mother’s Circle and Parish Council.

In 1995 she was named Mother of the Year by the Hartford Courant based on an essay written by her daughter explaining how and why she was such a wonderful mother.

She worked briefly in the Town Council Office for the Town of East Hartford, a job she loved, until her full retirement in 1999. Sheila and Mary Beth were inseparable and their relationship was the envy of many Mothers and Daughters. Sheila was fiercely loyal to her family and friends. She was kind and saw the best in everyone she met. She made you want to be a better person.

Sheila moved to Daniel Island in October 2020 to be near Mary Beth and her family. She lived at Daniel Pointe Retirement Community where she met her second love, Joseph J. Neri.

Sheila and Joe showed us that love is ageless and life is wonderful when you open your heart. Joe held her hand as she breathed her last breath and brought her great comfort and happiness.

Sheila is survived and will be missed   by her Daughter, Dr Mary Elizabeth Hanley and Son in Law Dr John R Carbon of Mount Pleasant, SC. Her 3 grandsons, Christopher John Carbon, Terrence Anthony Carbon and Timothy James Carbon all of Mount Pleasant, adored their Nana and she loved them dearly. Her sisters, Mrs Ralph J Viola (Peg) and Mrs James V Hurley (Kathy) of Connecticut, and her Brother in law Mr. William Hanley of Daniel Island. She leaves a host of nieces, nephews, great nieces and great nephews who all loved their Lala. She leaves her loving Companion, Joseph J. Neri and his Daughter Susan Hench who loved Sheila and brought her great comfort and joy. She was predeceased by her Husband, Robert W Hanley, by her only granddaughter, Baby Teresa Catherine Carbon, and by nephews James V Hurley III and Michael J. Hanley.