Michael Joseph "Mike" Sheils

Michael Joseph “Mike” Sheils, of Aston, PA and formerly of Newtown Square and Lansdowne, passed away on April 23, 2025, at the age of 100.

Born in County Armagh, Ireland, he was the son of the late Denis and Brigid (O’Hare) Sheils. Michael immigrated to the United States at the age of 11 in 1935 with his older brother Denis. He was raised by his Uncle Michael "Mac" O'Hare, and wife, Aunt Nelly, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Mike graduated West Catholic High in 1943 and served his country honorably in the US Army Air Force in Italy and Africa during World War II until 1946. He attended technical schools and worked in Alaska with the Civil Aeronautics Administration (CAA), now the Federal Aviation Agency (FAA), until July 1949 as a communicator. Mike returned to Philadelphia and worked for the Pennsylvania Railroad, Penn Central, and CONRAIL in communications from 1949 to 1986. He was also a member of the Lansdowne American Legion Post 65 and the Knights of Columbus.

Mike married Elizabeth Donegan in 1949, and they were blessed with six loving children. For over 40 years, Mike and his wife, Elizabeth, were active parishioners of St. Philomena Roman Catholic Church in Lansdowne, Pennsylvania as well as 20 years at St. Anastasia Parish in Newtown Square, Pennsylvania. Their commitment to the church was evident not only in their attendance but also in their involvement in the community.

Mike was the beloved and caring husband of the late Elizabeth (Donegan) Sheils for over 71 years; the loving father of the late Kathleen Sheils, Kevin Sheils (Marilyn), Michael Sheils, the late Anne Kovaleski (Alex), Denis Sheils (Theresa), and Mary Shrader (Stephen). He was the proud and devoted grandfather of Jeremy Sheils (Sheila), and Stephanie Bullock (Jud), Michael Sheils (Kate), Stephen Shrader, Liam Shrader (Meghan), Jack Shrader; and the kind-hearted great-grandfather of Owen Sheils, Casey Sheils, Braxton Bullock, Emmersyn Bullock, Hadley Bullock and Dorothy Shrader. Mike is predeceased by brothers, Denis Sheils, James Sheils, Patrick Shields, Peter Shields and sister, Mary Sheils.

Family and friends are invited to gather and celebrate a life well-lived beginning with a Viewing on Tuesday, April 29, 2025, 8:30 to 10:15 AM at St. Philomena Church, 41 E. Baltimore Avenue, Lansdowne, PA 19050, followed by a Funeral Mass, at 10:30 AM. Interment thereafter at Holy Cross Cemetery, Yeadon, PA.

In lieu of flowers, contributions in Mike’s memory can be made to:

Lansdowne American Legion Post #65, Lansdowne Borough Hall, 12 East Baltimore Avenue, Lansdowne, PA 19050 or Lansdowne Theater https://www.lansdownetheater.org/donate