Sheila T. Mcdermott Looney

Sheila Theresa McDermott Looney

, R. N., CRNA, a resident of Springfield, VA, passed away suddenly on December 28, 2016, in Gilbert, Arizona.

She spent her final days in the loving company of her youngest daughter Kathryn and family.

Born at home in Edgewater, New Jersey on October 19, 1932, she was the youngest and last surviving child of 7 children who were born to Patrick and Catherine McDermott (both from County Leitrim, Ireland and known there as the “Paddy Pat, Jimmies”).

Graduating from St. Cecilia’s High School, Sheila, or “Mac”, enrolled in St. James Nursing School in Newark, New Jersey and earned her degree in Nursing in 1954.

She then went on to specialize in Anesthesia, at Sacred Heart Hospital in Allentown, Pennsylvania and after graduation in 1956 began her career as a Nurse Anesthetist at Cornell Hospital in New York City.

In May 1960, while visiting a friend who was a Navy nurse stationed at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, North Carolina; Sheila met Captain Edmund P. Looney, Jr. at the Officers Club.

Married eight months later the two had their wedding reception at the same club.

Thus began Sheila’s life as a Marine wife, not as a “dependent wife” but as a “dependable one” as she liked to say.

For the next 35 years Sheila and growing family travelled the United States and world at the discretion of the Marine Corps.

Duty stations and home fronts included: North Carolina: Camp Lejeune & Cherry Point; Virginia: Dale City, Vienna and Arlington; Hawaii: Kaneohe, Oahu; Italy: Rome and Naples; California: Camp Pendleton and Barstow.

A strong and loving woman, Sheila’s dedication to her husband and four children was unwavering.

Move after move she created a welcoming and comfortable home for her family and many dear friends whom she welcomed with open arms.

Sheila returned to her nursing profession when the family was stationed in Virginia, first at Oakton Nursing Home, then Anesthesia at Manassas General, and again in California at Fallbrook Community Hospital.

Retiring with Ed to Trinity, Florida in 1994, Sheila was a faithful volunteer for Hospice of Hernando-Pasco until her nursing skills were required to care for Ed until his death in 2008.

Sheila leaves behind a legacy of everlasting faith, compassion, love and selflessness that will live on in her children and 15 grandchildren.

She is survived by her children and their spouses, Maj. Mary and Col. Ken Mulligan, USAF (Ret) of Springfield, VA; Col. Patrick, USMC (Ret) and Mary Kate Looney, of Lexington, VA; Tara and Kevin Whalen of Norwalk, CT and last but not least, Kathryn and Robert Romero of Gilbert, AZ.

Sheila cherished her 15 grandchildren so very much: Liam, Eamon and Erin Mulligan; Natalia, Seamus, Finbar and Patrick Looney; Moira, Patrick, Aidan and Teague Whalen; Treasa, Ronan, Cian and Damon Romero.

Her loving sister-in-law Sister Elizabeth Looney, CSJ, and many nieces, nephews and cousins, survive her in the US and Ireland.

Sheila loved to travel and read.

She disliked cooking but will be remembered for her potato salad, “intoxicated chicken” dish, and lasagna.

She loved to eat candy and drink coffee, both of which she enjoyed throughout the day.

She didn’t use e-mail but relied on “snail mail” to send countless cards to those dear to her.

A woman of deep faith the first thing she did when the family moved to a new location was find the nearest Catholic Church and memorize the Mass schedule.

Many friends, old and new, near and far, all of whom she called “Babe”, will always remember Sheila.

On 5 June 2017 at 10am a Mass of Christian burial will be held at the Church of the Nativity in Burke (6400 Nativity Lane).

Internment will be in Arlington National Cemetery please meet at the Administration Building in Arlington at 1:30pm.

In lieu of flowers please consider a donation to Semper Fi Fund (www.semperfifund.org/donate), Archdiocese for the Military Services, USA (www.milarch.org), or Fisher House (www.fisherhouse.org) in Sheila’s memory.