Sheila Kenney Hoyle

Sheila Kenney Hoyle
November 20, 1937 - March 5, 2017

On March 5th, 2017, Sheila Kenney Hoyle passed away peacefully in the company of her family. She was preceded in death by her husband, Edward Patrick Hoyle (deceased 2014); and is survived by her children, Molly, Edward Nolan, and Bridget; her grandson, Kirk; her sisters, Mary Dempsey and Susan Johnson; and sister-in-law, Joan Hutton.

Sheila was a lot of fun, with a great love of life she shared with Ed, her husband of 54 years. She was a loving mother who devoted herself to her children and doted on her grandson Kirk. She was warm, engaging, a great conversationalist, and possessed a broad sense of humor until her last days. "Sheila's laugh" was easily elicited, infectious and never forgotten. She loved having a wide circle of friends, meeting new people, and gathering with friends old and new. She loved to cook, and throughout her life she relished in trying new dishes and entertaining with lavish meals.

Sheila was the kind of person who could create a party atmosphere with peanut butter sandwiches and instant lemonade; she was that happy to bring people together. Sheila loved nothing more than to meet up to share a meal, raise a toast, and let the kids run and play.

Sheila was the middle child born to Nolan and June (Fritche) Kenney in Milwaukee, WI. She and her two sisters were extraordinarily close growing up and that bond stayed strong throughout their lives. She attended St. Jude's Catholic Grade School in Wauwatosa, WI and Holy Angels Academy in Milwaukee. Upon graduation, Sheila was a student at Marquette University, where she met and fell in love with Ed Hoyle. After receiving her bachelor's degree in Speech Therapy, Sheila and Ed were married on July 8th, 1960.

In 1961, Sheila gave birth to Molly in Wauwatosa, WI. Shortly after, Sheila and Ed moved to Tacoma, WA while Ed served in the US Army during the Berlin Wall Crisis. When Ed was released, Sheila and Ed moved to Denver, CO, where Edward Nolan was born in 1963. They moved again to Chatham, NJ in 1965, where Ed and Sheila welcomed Bridget to their family.

After moving their family for a short time to Buffalo, NY, Sheila and Ed moved to Middletown, NJ, where they lived for six years. This was a wonderful time in their lives when they made a wide circle of friendships from their neighborhood, their parish, and at the beach.

Sheila stepped up to the challenge of raising three small school-age children with all her energy and her typical verve and humor. The family joined St. Mary's Parish in Middletown, NJ, where the Hoyle children also went to school. Sheila volunteered as classroom mother for all the Hoyle children, and was occasionally a substitute teacher.

Sheila and Ed also joined Ship Ahoy Beach Club in Sea Bright, NJ. This was a special place for the entire family to enjoy the beach in the summertime. Here, Sheila helped bring her family into a warm social circle of families with young school age children. Sheila supported her children in their participation in swim team, driving to practices on chilly mornings. The Hoyles made many happy memories at the beach as well as friendships that lasted a lifetime.

In 1974, Sheila and Ed moved to Ohio so that Ed could start a new business. After settling into Bath Township, the family joined St. Hilary's Parish in Fairlawn, where the Hoyle children attended grade school. Later, Sheila and Ed sent Molly and Bridget to Our Lady of the Elms High School in Akron, and Edward Nolan to Walsh Jesuit High School in Cuyahoga Falls. Again, Sheila volunteered at all her children's schools, from bake sales to big fund raisers like the Walsh Pow-Wow and February Fantasy at the Elms. Sheila warmly encouraged all her children to pursue their passions, whether sports, art, or academics. Sheila loved to dive into activities at full tilt. Sheila spent countless hours driving her kids to sports practices and watching gymnastics meets, cross country meets and horse shows. She was a one-woman booster club for the Hoyle kids. As the Hoyle children grew to adulthood, Sheila considered it her crowning achievement to have all three children earn their Bachelor's degrees. Sheila also stepped up to join Bath Volunteers for Service, helping organize the Bath Fire Department Horse Show.

Sheila was a life-long athlete. In high school, she played basketball and volleyball. Later she took up tennis and competed with passion on the local club circuit, where she made still more friends.

Sheila was about inclusion, celebration, and fun. She lived for her children and her grandson. She lived for her friends. She had a life packed with tight family connections, close friends, and a wide circle of acquaintances and friends because she loved connection. And no one knew how to celebrate the present, big or small, with more joy.

Sheila's spirit, sparkle, laugh and sense of humor will be sorely missed by her family and loving sisters. We love you, Mom.

In lieu of flowers, please send a donation to the facility in which Sheila spent her last days: National Church Residences, 300 E. Bath Rd., Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio 44223, 330-929-6272

There will be a Liturgy of the Word at Billow's Funeral Home in Fairlawn, Ohio, on Saturday, March 25th at 2pm. Calling Hours will begin at 1pm and will continue after the Liturgy until 4pm.

Billow Fairlawn Chapel
85 N. Miller Rd.
Akron, Ohio 44333
330-867-4141