Sheila M. Hussie

Sheila Mary (nee Corcoran) Hussie passed away on July 29 at the home of her daughter in the Chestnut Hill section of Philadelphia, at the age of 76 as the result of a brain tumor diagnosed nearly two years ago. She was the loving wife of her husband Peter A. Hussie for nearly 54 years, and the loving mother of four children and ten grandchildren. She was a resident of West Mount Airy in Philadelphia, PA since 2006 and of East Mount Airy for more than 20 years. She previously lived in Jenkintown, PA for 17 years. A native of Dublin, Ireland, Sheila was one of seven children born to her late parents Thomas and Winifred “Una” Corcoran (nee Kelly). While growing up in Ireland, she often dreamed of traveling to the United States. As a child she shared stories of her adventures in the fields picking blackberries and later taking the infamous double-decker buses into town on occasion. As a young lady, she worked at the Savoy Cinema in Dublin, known for its long-running American musicals. While working there she learned the lyrics to a number of musicals and was often seen dancing around the house singing songs from the movies. One of her favorite tunes she never tired of hearing was “America” from “West Side Story.” Before long, in 1966, she found herself in the United States after securing a position as an au pair with a family in Georgetown, Washington, D.C. It was there she met her husband who was stationed in the U.S. Army at Fort Belvoir, VA. After their marriage engagement she moved to Mohrsville, PA, to be an au pair for another family and to live closer to her husband-to-be who lived with his family in Jenkintown. The couple were soon married in Hamburg, PA, near Reading, and then settled in Jenkintown, PA, to start their own family. As a devoted mother, Sheila enjoyed the small-town life in Jenkintown participating in youth sports and school activities with her children. She loved to take long walks with the kids around the little avenues with plentiful shops, boutiques and various department stores that lined them. In 1985, the family moved to East Mount Airy, and with the four children attending school full-time, she began working at the Chestnut Hill Farmers Market. Eventually, one of her customers oered her a job at the Academy of Natural Sciences in Center City, Philadelphia, in the museum’s membership department. She loved it there and was for many years the face of the museum, greeting visitors with her warm smile and Irish accent and repeatedly topped membership sales records. Always up for a challenge, she loved competitive games of any kind and particularly weekly outings as a beloved member of an area bowling league. With her charm, wit and sense of adventure, she had a knack for making friends and continued to stay in close touch with friends, former workmates and neighbors for more than 50 years. She had an uncanny ability to care and nurture everyone around her. In 1985, she was asked to help a student from Japan who needed a place to stay due to a campus housing shortage. Having enjoyed that experience, she continued to host many other students from dierent countries helping them to sharpen their English language skills and adjust to life and customs in the United States. For the next 30 years, she would develop long standing relationships as a host mother to over 120 foreign students from around the world. Her loss will no doubt be felt across Asia, Europe, the Middle East, Africa and South America. Many of them refer to her as Mom and continue to come visit her - often with their mothers and fathers, and sometimes decades later with their young families - spouses, and children. Sheila loved her adopted country and fulfilled her dream to become a U.S. citizen in 1996. She was always proud to display the American flag outside of her home, however, she also loved her Irish heritage and enjoyed sharing it with family and friends. Sometimes it was a simple Gaelic blessing before meals, but on March 17th you could be sure she was singing loudly and proudly along to Irish folk songs while preparing corned beef and cabbage awaiting family and friends at her famous Saint Paddy’s Day “Hooley.” It was there that you would witness her wonderful sense of humor, infectious laughter topped with her beautiful Irish green eyes. She loved to travel and would return to Ireland often as she could to reconnect with family members and friends. She enjoyed vacation trips to Paris, London and the South of France. She also was well-traveled in the U.S visiting family members and friends throughout the country. Influenced by her father, she had a special love of gardening, who often took her on visits with him to the Botanical Gardens in Dublin. Because her father was in poor health for many years, life in Dublin was not always easy for her family but she was always ready to give help and support whenever needed. All of these things and so much more made Sheila the special person that she was, however, above all else, it was her love of God and devotion to her family that came first for her throughout her life. In addition to her husband, Peter A., she is survived by her children, Deirdre (Douglas) Bachar of Fairfield, IA, Peter T. ( Jessica) Hussie of Furlong, PA, and Kieran E. (Cindy) Hussie of Oreland, PA, and Maura (Kristopher) Harris of Philadelphia, PA; and by her grandchildren, Olivia ( Jackson) Warren, Aidan Bachar, Roan Bachar, Riley Hussie, Colin Hussie, Paige Hussie, Lauren Hussie, Kelly Hussie, and Maeve Harris. She is also survived by her brothers Brian (Bernadette) Corcoran of Dublin, Ireland, and Terrence ( Julie) Corcoran of Mannington, WV, and her sisters Una Teelin of Baraboo, WI, and Deirdre (Thomas) McCarthy of Dublin, Ireland. She is preceded in death by two other brothers, Patrick James “Jimmy” Corcoran and Kevin Corcoran of Dublin, Ireland. Her funeral Mass will be celebrated on Friday, August 4, at 11 A.M. at Holy Cross Roman Catholic Church, 140 E. Mt. Airy Ave., Philadelphia, PA. Family members will receive visitors at the church from 9:30 A.M. Following the Mass she will be interred at Holy Sepulchre Cemetery, in Cheltenham Township, PA. The Funeral Mass will be live-streamed at https://holycrossphl.org/ Donations in her honor may be made to Kin https://www.welcometokin.org/about or The Breathing Room Foundation https://breathingroomfoundation.org whose goals are to improve the lives of families aected by cancer. Flowers and memorials may be sent to the Church on Friday or to 511 W. Gravers Lane, Phila., PA 19118.