Lorraine Sheeley

Born in Lamont, IA
Born on Nov 26, 1931
Departed on Jun 18, 2022

Memorial

Lorraine Sheeley, 90, of Cedar Rapids, Iowa died Saturday, June 18, 2022, in Hospice Care. A visitation will be held at Cedar Memorial Park Funeral Home on Friday June 24th from 4-7 pm. The Funeral Mass will take place at St. Matthew Catholic Church, 2310 1st Avenue NE in Cedar Rapids, on Saturday June 25th at 10:30 am. A one-hour visitation will be available at the church before Mass. Burial will take place in St. Alberts Cemetery in Lamont, Iowa at a later date.

Lorraine was born in Lamont, Iowa, on November 26, 1931.  She always like to point out that “This was on Thanksgiving Day” she was born the daughter of Mary Margaret (Maggie) Graesch Helms and Albert Henry Helms. 

Lorraine was a 1949 graduate of Lamont High School. She was a 3rd All State Girls Iowa Basketball Team forward in 1949. She graduated from Upper Iowa University in 1951 with a Teaching Certificate. She then taught school in Winthrop, Iowa, from 1951 to 1954. She married the love of her life, Cyril Sheeley, on August 7, 1954, at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Lamont. Lorraine worked for Rockwell Collins from 1955 till 1989 on the assembly line. 

Lorraine was a long-time member of St. Matthew Catholic Church. She belonged to St. Bernadette’s Circle there and was an active worker with the circle in serving funeral dinners “for 23 years” as she like to point out.

Lorraine was also a longtime member of the YMCA and one of the original Silver Sneakers at the HGN YMCA. She was a volunteer instructor for the Silver Sneakers Class. She enjoyed helping to co-ordinate their monthly potlucks and became famous for her potato salad. Her Silver Sneakers family became very close and enjoyed attending events together outside the YMCA. 

Lorraine and husband Cyril love to dance! Most weekends you could find them on a dance floor. Card playing was another of their passions. Family get-togethers included many games of “500.” 

Family was so important to Lorraine. Her time was spent caring for and enjoying family. She always looked forward to preparing and serving large family meals. Many great memories were created for the family while enjoying Lorraine’s Lasagna around the family dinner table. 

Survivors include her children, Mary Sheeley Anderson, Patrick Sheeley and Michael Sheeley (Cheryl); siblings Alene Feldhacker (James) and Michael Helms, and sister-in-law Norma Helms, grandchildren, Tyler (Nikki), Zach, Reggie (Carrie), Grant, Anna, Nathan, and Dillion, step grandchildren, Lindsey (Adam), Tyler, and Kyle, great grandchildren, Madisyn and Avery, and step-great grandchildren, Elle, Grady and Mack, and many nieces, nephews, and cousins. 

Lorraine is preceded in death by her parents Albert and Maggie Helms, husband Cyril Sheeley, sister Lavonne “Dodie" (Helms) Streeter, and brother Harold “Hal” Helms.

Lorraine was always there for her family and friends. Her love, strength, support, and guidance will be missed. But she will continue to live on in the hearts of those that knew her. 

The family of Lorraine would like to thank the staff and residents of Garnett Place for their loving Care of her there. They welcome her into their community and made her feel special. She formed wonderful friendships there. She was a proud member of the Ding-A-Ling bell ringers’ group there and enjoyed her participation with them. 

Lorraine’s family would also like to thank Kindred at Home and Avalon Hospice for their compassionate care of her. 
Lorraine passed away on the date of the 38th Anniversary of her husband Cyril’s funeral and