Sheila Edythe Dickey Rice, 79, died on February 14, 2022, after a long battle with Alzheimer's Disease.
Sheila was born in Bangor, Maine on December 5, 1942.
She graduated from Hampden Academy in 1961. Sheila raised her family of five children in Fairfield and then Litchfield Counties in Connecticut, where she was a long-time resident of New Milford.
A dog-lover her entire life, Sheila's hobby of obedience training began with her first Labrador, Libby Ramble of Maine, back in the 70's and culminated with her own dog obedience school in the 80's. Sheila held classes for owners and their dogs through the New Milford Parks and Rec. department, even holding celebratory "graduations" for her students.
Sheila worked as a veterinary technician in New Fairfield during the late 80's and in the early 90's, she ventured into new territory as an administrative assistant in New York City to Carmella Donghia of Donghia Textiles.
Eventually, Sheila would fall in love with Standard Poodles and had a successful career as an "owner, breeder, handler," raising many generations of Standards, even showing one of her puppies at The Garden. Sheila was also a small business owner as the proprietor of Compass Grooming in Marbledale, CT which she operated for nearly 20 years. Fiercely independent, Sheila charted her own course and created a full life filled with her family and multitudes of friends, both two and four legged. Sheila loved to say that she was "small but mighty," all 5 feet of her. She was a force of nature and carried her tenacious "Mainer" spirit with her throughout her life.
Sheila is survived by her loving five children, her eleven grandchildren; her three nieces; and her two brothers.
Sheila is predeceased by her parents, Richmond Chandler Dickey, Sr., and Hope L Dickey (nee White); and her loving sisters Sarah "Sally" Whinery and Jane Richmond Perkins.
Private graveside service and burial at New Milford Center Cemetery.
Source: Lillis Funeral Home, New Milford, CT
Sheila was born in Bangor, Maine on December 5, 1942.
She graduated from Hampden Academy in 1961. Sheila raised her family of five children in Fairfield and then Litchfield Counties in Connecticut, where she was a long-time resident of New Milford.
A dog-lover her entire life, Sheila's hobby of obedience training began with her first Labrador, Libby Ramble of Maine, back in the 70's and culminated with her own dog obedience school in the 80's. Sheila held classes for owners and their dogs through the New Milford Parks and Rec. department, even holding celebratory "graduations" for her students.
Sheila worked as a veterinary technician in New Fairfield during the late 80's and in the early 90's, she ventured into new territory as an administrative assistant in New York City to Carmella Donghia of Donghia Textiles.
Eventually, Sheila would fall in love with Standard Poodles and had a successful career as an "owner, breeder, handler," raising many generations of Standards, even showing one of her puppies at The Garden. Sheila was also a small business owner as the proprietor of Compass Grooming in Marbledale, CT which she operated for nearly 20 years. Fiercely independent, Sheila charted her own course and created a full life filled with her family and multitudes of friends, both two and four legged. Sheila loved to say that she was "small but mighty," all 5 feet of her. She was a force of nature and carried her tenacious "Mainer" spirit with her throughout her life.
Sheila is survived by her loving five children, her eleven grandchildren; her three nieces; and her two brothers.
Sheila is predeceased by her parents, Richmond Chandler Dickey, Sr., and Hope L Dickey (nee White); and her loving sisters Sarah "Sally" Whinery and Jane Richmond Perkins.
Private graveside service and burial at New Milford Center Cemetery.
Source: Lillis Funeral Home, New Milford, CT
Sheila Edythe Dickey Rice, 79, died on February 14, 2022, after a long battle with Alzheimer's Disease.
Sheila was born in Bangor, Maine on December 5, 1942.
She graduated from Hampden Academy in 1961. Sheila raised her family of five children in Fairfield and then Litchfield Counties in Connecticut, where she was a long-time resident of New Milford.
A dog-lover her entire life, Sheila's hobby of obedience training began with her first Labrador, Libby Ramble of Maine, back in the 70's and culminated with her own dog obedience school in the 80's. Sheila held classes for owners and their dogs through the New Milford Parks and Rec. department, even holding celebratory "graduations" for her students.
Sheila worked as a veterinary technician in New Fairfield during the late 80's and in the early 90's, she ventured into new territory as an administrative assistant in New York City to Carmella Donghia of Donghia Textiles.
Eventually, Sheila would fall in love with Standard Poodles and had a successful career as an "owner, breeder, handler," raising many generations of Standards, even showing one of her puppies at The Garden. Sheila was also a small business owner as the proprietor of Compass Grooming in Marbledale, CT which she operated for nearly 20 years. Fiercely independent, Sheila charted her own course and created a full life filled with her family and multitudes of friends, both two and four legged. Sheila loved to say that she was "small but mighty," all 5 feet of her. She was a force of nature and carried her tenacious "Mainer" spirit with her throughout her life.
Sheila is survived by her loving five children, her eleven grandchildren; her three nieces; and her two brothers.
Sheila is predeceased by her parents, Richmond Chandler Dickey, Sr., and Hope L Dickey (nee White); and her loving sisters Sarah "Sally" Whinery and Jane Richmond Perkins.
Private graveside service and burial at New Milford Center Cemetery.
Source: Lillis Funeral Home, New Milford, CT
Sheila was born in Bangor, Maine on December 5, 1942.
She graduated from Hampden Academy in 1961. Sheila raised her family of five children in Fairfield and then Litchfield Counties in Connecticut, where she was a long-time resident of New Milford.
A dog-lover her entire life, Sheila's hobby of obedience training began with her first Labrador, Libby Ramble of Maine, back in the 70's and culminated with her own dog obedience school in the 80's. Sheila held classes for owners and their dogs through the New Milford Parks and Rec. department, even holding celebratory "graduations" for her students.
Sheila worked as a veterinary technician in New Fairfield during the late 80's and in the early 90's, she ventured into new territory as an administrative assistant in New York City to Carmella Donghia of Donghia Textiles.
Eventually, Sheila would fall in love with Standard Poodles and had a successful career as an "owner, breeder, handler," raising many generations of Standards, even showing one of her puppies at The Garden. Sheila was also a small business owner as the proprietor of Compass Grooming in Marbledale, CT which she operated for nearly 20 years. Fiercely independent, Sheila charted her own course and created a full life filled with her family and multitudes of friends, both two and four legged. Sheila loved to say that she was "small but mighty," all 5 feet of her. She was a force of nature and carried her tenacious "Mainer" spirit with her throughout her life.
Sheila is survived by her loving five children, her eleven grandchildren; her three nieces; and her two brothers.
Sheila is predeceased by her parents, Richmond Chandler Dickey, Sr., and Hope L Dickey (nee White); and her loving sisters Sarah "Sally" Whinery and Jane Richmond Perkins.
Private graveside service and burial at New Milford Center Cemetery.
Source: Lillis Funeral Home, New Milford, CT
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