Obituary of Sheila N. O'Leary

Sheila N. O’Leary, 84, of Melville, passed away on November 22, 2022. Beloved wife of Dennis J. O’Leary and daughter of Julia King. Loving mother of Erin, Kelly and Dennis. Beloved Sister of Eli John King Jr, George King, and Mary Buckley. Adoring grandmother of Deryn, Declan and Marissa.  Sheila will be loved and missed by her extended family and friends. Visitation Sunday 2-4 & 7-9 PM at M.A. Connell Funeral Home, 934 New York Ave., Huntington Station. Funeral Mass Monday at 9:30 AM, at St. Elizabeth of Hungary Church, Melville, NY. Interment to follow at Melville Cemetery, Melville, NY 11747.

Sheila King was born in the Bronx, NY to Julia and Eli John King in 1938. She graduated from St. Helena’s High School in the Bronx, NY. After high school she worked for various companies in New York City as a secretary. She was married to Dennis J. O’Leary also of the Bronx.

She instilled in her children the value of hard work, but also the value of kindness, the importance of friendship, and a sense of humor. She loved all kinds of music and loved to sing and dance.  Her house was always filled with family and friends.  Her family and friends were of the highest importance and priority to her. She was a strong-willed person that always took time to support her friends and family when they needed it.  Sheila was a breast cancer survivor.

The O’Leary family has a love of sports which came from their parents. Sheila was an avid Knick and tennis fan. Erin, Kelly and Dennis all participated in CYO sports and on travel teams. Sheila was a travel soccer coach for her daughters. She was often class mother at school. As her children entered high school, their parents attended every game. This continued into college.  Sheila was a constant support and source of advice for her children as they went through life.  Sheila played volleyball, tennis, and bowled into her 70s.  She loved attending her granddaughter’s volleyball games, piano recitals, and dance performances.

Sheila was an active member of St Elizabeth of Hungary Church in Melville for over 40 years and was a devout Catholic throughout her life.