Sheila Polley

Sheila Polley (nee Ennis) died at the age of 98 on Wednesday, July 5, 2023.

She was born and raised in Regina, Sk., the eldest of five children of Nonie and Lloyd Ennis.  She married Fred Polley on May 26, 1951 and moved to Swift Current, Sk., where they raised seven children.  Fred died far too young, leaving Sheila with three children still in university and three at home.  Resiliant, as always, she simply got to the task of ensuring life continued with as much normalcy as was possible for her children.  All graduated from university and  as none remained in Swift Current, eventually Sheila moved to Calgary, Ab., where most of her family resided.

One definition of unique is being the only one of its kind; unlike anything else.  That was Sheila.  She had physical beauty.  She was a talented writer and artist. She loved to dance and to sing and had an amazing memory for song lyrics and poetry.  She was blessed with intelligence and had a voracious appetite for reading and learning, always keeping current with world events and topics of debate.  She loved the challenge of battling wits with any and all, and generally, it must be acknowledged, she did so with success.  Her most endearing quality may have been her sense of humour and her appreciation of the odd quirks and absurdities that life throws at us.  She did have her share of life’s tragedies which she endured with stoicism, dignity and without complaint.

Sheila’s life was her family and she left an indelible mark on all of us. She was truly the matriarch and the lives of her family were of utmost importance to her. She was very interested and took an active role in the lives of her children, grandchildren, their significant others and their friends. She was always prepared to give her advice or to provide her opinion, sometimes wanted, sometimes not, sometimes accepted, sometimes not.  But always given with the best of intentions. 

Her impact on others was significant.  She was her own person; unafraid to say or do what she believed to be right.  Sheila was strong willed and followed her own path, once chosen, but always striving to be honest and fair. Friends of her children became her friends. Friends of her grandchildren became her friends.  She accepted people for who they were, regardless of age and notwithstanding any faults or differences they may have had.  She was a remarkable woman and she will be greatly missed.

She was predeceased by her husband Fred (May 7, 1976) , her daughter Mary Ellen (May 13, 1996), her son Tom (February 26, 2018), and her brother Jim Ennis. She is lovingly remembered by her children, Katy (Don) Anderson, Jamie (Laurie), Joe (Janice), Dave (Karen) and  Elizabeth (Scott) Dunn; sixteen grandchildren and  twenty-two great grandchildren, all of whom knew and loved her; her siblings, Joan McLellan, Terry Ennis and Alan Ennis, and many neices and nephews.

At Sheila’s request there will be no memorial service.  Her family intends to hold a private Celebration of Life at a later date.