Obituary
For Sheela Staudinger, it was all in her eyes. She had the brightest, prettiest eyes, changing their color with the light, drawing you in with a light all their own. She was such a beautiful, radiant young woman, so positive and cheerful, so funny and fun-loving. Sheela was taken from us too soon, but her light, and her life, shines on brightly in all who knew her.
Sheela's story began on a cold fall day in 1982, as the Thanksgiving feasts were being prepared in Kalamazoo, Michigan. Those were times of turmoil around the globe, as America and Ronald Reagan battled the Cold War with the Soviet Union, and the arms race continued. Later that year, Disney World unveiled the Epcot Center, and Michael Jackson released the best-selling album of all time, Thriller. On November 21, 1982, the Sunday before Thanksgiving, LeRoy and Jeri (Pikkaart) Staudinger had something to be even more thankful for, with the birth of a beautiful baby girl at Borgess Medical Center in Kalamazoo, a daughter they named Sheela.
Sheela was the middle of four children in the family, joining her big brother Rocky, her little sister Ashlee, and a little brother Kirk, who was sadly stillborn. The family lived in nearby Plainwell, surrounded by a large and loving extended family of grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins.
Sheela's family called her "Cricket," the name her dad always wanted to give her, and what an appropriate nickname it became for little Sheela, always with a spring in her step, happily chirping as she went through life.
Her effervescent personality made her many good friends growing up, lifelong friends from Plainwell Schools. By the time she reached Plainwell High School, Sheela had grown into a bright, beautiful, and outgoing young woman, a good student and a popular member of the cheerleading squad.
When she wasn't in school, Sheela began babysitting for a special child named Katie, from the time Katie was just two years old. That was a lot of responsibility for her, but Sheela loved Katie like a little sister, and became very special to her over the years.
Perhaps from being around Katie, Sheela wanted to help other children, so after graduating from Plainwell High School in 2000, she headed off to Kalamazoo to attend Western Michigan University and study teaching.
Through a lot of hard work and perseverance, Sheela graduated from Western Michigan with her teaching degree, one of the proudest days of her life, and a very proud moment for her family.
With teaching jobs in short supply, however, Sheela eventually went to work for Mirage Tanning Salons. It was a great fit for the self-professed "girly girl," who enjoyed having her nails done nicely and always looking her best. She became the manager of the Kalamazoo and Portage locations, and enjoyed it there very much in her two years there. She was also employed by the S.A.F.E program, a before and after school program at Plainwell Community Schools for the past 5 years.
Of course, Sheela was far from all work and no play. She was a young woman who loved life, and lived it to the fullest. She was a great "mommy" to her pets, her dogs Tyson, a Jack Russell mix, and Bella, a Labrador, and also her feline friend, Bebe.
She remained very close to her family, even moving close by in Otsego. Sheela and her mother took a few great trips together to Texas, to visit Sheela's little sister Ashlee, who was living there with her boyfriend Clinton. She took tons of photos from those trips, and collected hundreds of snapshots of her family, her friends, her pets and her fondest memories.
Sheela enjoyed many other things in her life, from listening to the Dixie Chicks, to adding to her collection of designer purses (especially COACH), shoes and sandals, which filled her closets in every color of the rainbow.
Of course, nothing made Sheela's eyes shine quite like being near her family and friends. She was such a beautiful, buoyant young woman, who always knew the way to make the people around her laugh, smile, and have a good time. She had those sparkling eyes, changing color with the light, yet so beautiful in any hue.
Sadly, Sheela died very unexpectedly on Thursday, July 10, 2008, at the age of 25.
Sheela was a radiant, vibrant young woman, so positive and outgoing, funny and fun-loving. She had bright, beautiful eyes, changing their color with the light, a light that followed her wherever she went. She was a loving daughter, sister, granddaughter and friend, and a young woman who was taken too soon. Today her light, and her life, shines brightly on all who knew her. She will be greatly missed.
Sheela was preceded in death by one brother, Kirk; and maternal grandparents, Donald and Gladys Pikkaart.
She is survived by her parents, LeRoy and Jeri (Pikkaart) Staudinger; her brother, Rocky (fiancée Kelly Grugel) Staudinger, of Kalamazoo; sister Ashlee (boyfriend, Clinton Flynn) Staudinger, of Plainwell; her paternal grandparents: Ruth Rook, of Kalamazoo; Clarence (Sandy) Rook, of Kalamazoo; and by many aunts, uncles, and cousins.
Learn more about Sheela, view her Life Story film, and visit with her family and friends Monday from 4 to 7 p.m. at the Life Story Funeral Home, Plainwell Chapel, 120 S. Woodhams. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Tuesday at the same location.
Please visit Sheela's Memory Page at www.lifestorynet.com, where you can share a favorite memory or photo, sign her memory book online or make a memorial donation to help her sister Ashlee with her education.
For Sheela Staudinger, it was all in her eyes. She had the brightest, prettiest eyes, changing their color with the light, drawing you in with a light all their own. She was such a beautiful, radiant young woman, so positive and cheerful, so funny and fun-loving. Sheela was taken from us too soon, but her light, and her life, shines on brightly in all who knew her.
Sheela's story began on a cold fall day in 1982, as the Thanksgiving feasts were being prepared in Kalamazoo, Michigan. Those were times of turmoil around the globe, as America and Ronald Reagan battled the Cold War with the Soviet Union, and the arms race continued. Later that year, Disney World unveiled the Epcot Center, and Michael Jackson released the best-selling album of all time, Thriller. On November 21, 1982, the Sunday before Thanksgiving, LeRoy and Jeri (Pikkaart) Staudinger had something to be even more thankful for, with the birth of a beautiful baby girl at Borgess Medical Center in Kalamazoo, a daughter they named Sheela.
Sheela was the middle of four children in the family, joining her big brother Rocky, her little sister Ashlee, and a little brother Kirk, who was sadly stillborn. The family lived in nearby Plainwell, surrounded by a large and loving extended family of grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins.
Sheela's family called her "Cricket," the name her dad always wanted to give her, and what an appropriate nickname it became for little Sheela, always with a spring in her step, happily chirping as she went through life.
Her effervescent personality made her many good friends growing up, lifelong friends from Plainwell Schools. By the time she reached Plainwell High School, Sheela had grown into a bright, beautiful, and outgoing young woman, a good student and a popular member of the cheerleading squad.
When she wasn't in school, Sheela began babysitting for a special child named Katie, from the time Katie was just two years old. That was a lot of responsibility for her, but Sheela loved Katie like a little sister, and became very special to her over the years.
Perhaps from being around Katie, Sheela wanted to help other children, so after graduating from Plainwell High School in 2000, she headed off to Kalamazoo to attend Western Michigan University and study teaching.
Through a lot of hard work and perseverance, Sheela graduated from Western Michigan with her teaching degree, one of the proudest days of her life, and a very proud moment for her family.
With teaching jobs in short supply, however, Sheela eventually went to work for Mirage Tanning Salons. It was a great fit for the self-professed "girly girl," who enjoyed having her nails done nicely and always looking her best. She became the manager of the Kalamazoo and Portage locations, and enjoyed it there very much in her two years there. She was also employed by the S.A.F.E program, a before and after school program at Plainwell Community Schools for the past 5 years.
Of course, Sheela was far from all work and no play. She was a young woman who loved life, and lived it to the fullest. She was a great "mommy" to her pets, her dogs Tyson, a Jack Russell mix, and Bella, a Labrador, and also her feline friend, Bebe.
She remained very close to her family, even moving close by in Otsego. Sheela and her mother took a few great trips together to Texas, to visit Sheela's little sister Ashlee, who was living there with her boyfriend Clinton. She took tons of photos from those trips, and collected hundreds of snapshots of her family, her friends, her pets and her fondest memories.
Sheela enjoyed many other things in her life, from listening to the Dixie Chicks, to adding to her collection of designer purses (especially COACH), shoes and sandals, which filled her closets in every color of the rainbow.
Of course, nothing made Sheela's eyes shine quite like being near her family and friends. She was such a beautiful, buoyant young woman, who always knew the way to make the people around her laugh, smile, and have a good time. She had those sparkling eyes, changing color with the light, yet so beautiful in any hue.
Sadly, Sheela died very unexpectedly on Thursday, July 10, 2008, at the age of 25.
Sheela was a radiant, vibrant young woman, so positive and outgoing, funny and fun-loving. She had bright, beautiful eyes, changing their color with the light, a light that followed her wherever she went. She was a loving daughter, sister, granddaughter and friend, and a young woman who was taken too soon. Today her light, and her life, shines brightly on all who knew her. She will be greatly missed.
Sheela was preceded in death by one brother, Kirk; and maternal grandparents, Donald and Gladys Pikkaart.
She is survived by her parents, LeRoy and Jeri (Pikkaart) Staudinger; her brother, Rocky (fiancée Kelly Grugel) Staudinger, of Kalamazoo; sister Ashlee (boyfriend, Clinton Flynn) Staudinger, of Plainwell; her paternal grandparents: Ruth Rook, of Kalamazoo; Clarence (Sandy) Rook, of Kalamazoo; and by many aunts, uncles, and cousins.
Learn more about Sheela, view her Life Story film, and visit with her family and friends Monday from 4 to 7 p.m. at the Life Story Funeral Home, Plainwell Chapel, 120 S. Woodhams. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Tuesday at the same location.
Please visit Sheela's Memory Page at www.lifestorynet.com, where you can share a favorite memory or photo, sign her memory book online or make a memorial donation to help her sister Ashlee with her education.
Obituary
For Sheela Staudinger, it was all in her eyes. She had the brightest, prettiest eyes, changing their color with the light, drawing you in with a light all their own. She was such a beautiful, radiant young woman, so positive and cheerful, so funny and fun-loving. Sheela was taken from us too soon, but her light, and her life, shines on brightly in all who knew her.
Sheela's story began on a cold fall day in 1982, as the Thanksgiving feasts were being prepared in Kalamazoo, Michigan. Those were times of turmoil around the globe, as America and Ronald Reagan battled the Cold War with the Soviet Union, and the arms race continued. Later that year, Disney World unveiled the Epcot Center, and Michael Jackson released the best-selling album of all time, Thriller. On November 21, 1982, the Sunday before Thanksgiving, LeRoy and Jeri (Pikkaart) Staudinger had something to be even more thankful for, with the birth of a beautiful baby girl at Borgess Medical Center in Kalamazoo, a daughter they named Sheela.
Sheela was the middle of four children in the family, joining her big brother Rocky, her little sister Ashlee, and a little brother Kirk, who was sadly stillborn. The family lived in nearby Plainwell, surrounded by a large and loving extended family of grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins.
Sheela's family called her "Cricket," the name her dad always wanted to give her, and what an appropriate nickname it became for little Sheela, always with a spring in her step, happily chirping as she went through life.
Her effervescent personality made her many good friends growing up, lifelong friends from Plainwell Schools. By the time she reached Plainwell High School, Sheela had grown into a bright, beautiful, and outgoing young woman, a good student and a popular member of the cheerleading squad.
When she wasn't in school, Sheela began babysitting for a special child named Katie, from the time Katie was just two years old. That was a lot of responsibility for her, but Sheela loved Katie like a little sister, and became very special to her over the years.
Perhaps from being around Katie, Sheela wanted to help other children, so after graduating from Plainwell High School in 2000, she headed off to Kalamazoo to attend Western Michigan University and study teaching.
Through a lot of hard work and perseverance, Sheela graduated from Western Michigan with her teaching degree, one of the proudest days of her life, and a very proud moment for her family.
With teaching jobs in short supply, however, Sheela eventually went to work for Mirage Tanning Salons. It was a great fit for the self-professed "girly girl," who enjoyed having her nails done nicely and always looking her best. She became the manager of the Kalamazoo and Portage locations, and enjoyed it there very much in her two years there. She was also employed by the S.A.F.E program, a before and after school program at Plainwell Community Schools for the past 5 years.
Of course, Sheela was far from all work and no play. She was a young woman who loved life, and lived it to the fullest. She was a great "mommy" to her pets, her dogs Tyson, a Jack Russell mix, and Bella, a Labrador, and also her feline friend, Bebe.
She remained very close to her family, even moving close by in Otsego. Sheela and her mother took a few great trips together to Texas, to visit Sheela's little sister Ashlee, who was living there with her boyfriend Clinton. She took tons of photos from those trips, and collected hundreds of snapshots of her family, her friends, her pets and her fondest memories.
Sheela enjoyed many other things in her life, from listening to the Dixie Chicks, to adding to her collection of designer purses (especially COACH), shoes and sandals, which filled her closets in every color of the rainbow.
Of course, nothing made Sheela's eyes shine quite like being near her family and friends. She was such a beautiful, buoyant young woman, who always knew the way to make the people around her laugh, smile, and have a good time. She had those sparkling eyes, changing color with the light, yet so beautiful in any hue.
Sadly, Sheela died very unexpectedly on Thursday, July 10, 2008, at the age of 25.
Sheela was a radiant, vibrant young woman, so positive and outgoing, funny and fun-loving. She had bright, beautiful eyes, changing their color with the light, a light that followed her wherever she went. She was a loving daughter, sister, granddaughter and friend, and a young woman who was taken too soon. Today her light, and her life, shines brightly on all who knew her. She will be greatly missed.
Sheela was preceded in death by one brother, Kirk; and maternal grandparents, Donald and Gladys Pikkaart.
She is survived by her parents, LeRoy and Jeri (Pikkaart) Staudinger; her brother, Rocky (fiancée Kelly Grugel) Staudinger, of Kalamazoo; sister Ashlee (boyfriend, Clinton Flynn) Staudinger, of Plainwell; her paternal grandparents: Ruth Rook, of Kalamazoo; Clarence (Sandy) Rook, of Kalamazoo; and by many aunts, uncles, and cousins.
Learn more about Sheela, view her Life Story film, and visit with her family and friends Monday from 4 to 7 p.m. at the Life Story Funeral Home, Plainwell Chapel, 120 S. Woodhams. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Tuesday at the same location.
Please visit Sheela's Memory Page at www.lifestorynet.com, where you can share a favorite memory or photo, sign her memory book online or make a memorial donation to help her sister Ashlee with her education.
For Sheela Staudinger, it was all in her eyes. She had the brightest, prettiest eyes, changing their color with the light, drawing you in with a light all their own. She was such a beautiful, radiant young woman, so positive and cheerful, so funny and fun-loving. Sheela was taken from us too soon, but her light, and her life, shines on brightly in all who knew her.
Sheela's story began on a cold fall day in 1982, as the Thanksgiving feasts were being prepared in Kalamazoo, Michigan. Those were times of turmoil around the globe, as America and Ronald Reagan battled the Cold War with the Soviet Union, and the arms race continued. Later that year, Disney World unveiled the Epcot Center, and Michael Jackson released the best-selling album of all time, Thriller. On November 21, 1982, the Sunday before Thanksgiving, LeRoy and Jeri (Pikkaart) Staudinger had something to be even more thankful for, with the birth of a beautiful baby girl at Borgess Medical Center in Kalamazoo, a daughter they named Sheela.
Sheela was the middle of four children in the family, joining her big brother Rocky, her little sister Ashlee, and a little brother Kirk, who was sadly stillborn. The family lived in nearby Plainwell, surrounded by a large and loving extended family of grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins.
Sheela's family called her "Cricket," the name her dad always wanted to give her, and what an appropriate nickname it became for little Sheela, always with a spring in her step, happily chirping as she went through life.
Her effervescent personality made her many good friends growing up, lifelong friends from Plainwell Schools. By the time she reached Plainwell High School, Sheela had grown into a bright, beautiful, and outgoing young woman, a good student and a popular member of the cheerleading squad.
When she wasn't in school, Sheela began babysitting for a special child named Katie, from the time Katie was just two years old. That was a lot of responsibility for her, but Sheela loved Katie like a little sister, and became very special to her over the years.
Perhaps from being around Katie, Sheela wanted to help other children, so after graduating from Plainwell High School in 2000, she headed off to Kalamazoo to attend Western Michigan University and study teaching.
Through a lot of hard work and perseverance, Sheela graduated from Western Michigan with her teaching degree, one of the proudest days of her life, and a very proud moment for her family.
With teaching jobs in short supply, however, Sheela eventually went to work for Mirage Tanning Salons. It was a great fit for the self-professed "girly girl," who enjoyed having her nails done nicely and always looking her best. She became the manager of the Kalamazoo and Portage locations, and enjoyed it there very much in her two years there. She was also employed by the S.A.F.E program, a before and after school program at Plainwell Community Schools for the past 5 years.
Of course, Sheela was far from all work and no play. She was a young woman who loved life, and lived it to the fullest. She was a great "mommy" to her pets, her dogs Tyson, a Jack Russell mix, and Bella, a Labrador, and also her feline friend, Bebe.
She remained very close to her family, even moving close by in Otsego. Sheela and her mother took a few great trips together to Texas, to visit Sheela's little sister Ashlee, who was living there with her boyfriend Clinton. She took tons of photos from those trips, and collected hundreds of snapshots of her family, her friends, her pets and her fondest memories.
Sheela enjoyed many other things in her life, from listening to the Dixie Chicks, to adding to her collection of designer purses (especially COACH), shoes and sandals, which filled her closets in every color of the rainbow.
Of course, nothing made Sheela's eyes shine quite like being near her family and friends. She was such a beautiful, buoyant young woman, who always knew the way to make the people around her laugh, smile, and have a good time. She had those sparkling eyes, changing color with the light, yet so beautiful in any hue.
Sadly, Sheela died very unexpectedly on Thursday, July 10, 2008, at the age of 25.
Sheela was a radiant, vibrant young woman, so positive and outgoing, funny and fun-loving. She had bright, beautiful eyes, changing their color with the light, a light that followed her wherever she went. She was a loving daughter, sister, granddaughter and friend, and a young woman who was taken too soon. Today her light, and her life, shines brightly on all who knew her. She will be greatly missed.
Sheela was preceded in death by one brother, Kirk; and maternal grandparents, Donald and Gladys Pikkaart.
She is survived by her parents, LeRoy and Jeri (Pikkaart) Staudinger; her brother, Rocky (fiancée Kelly Grugel) Staudinger, of Kalamazoo; sister Ashlee (boyfriend, Clinton Flynn) Staudinger, of Plainwell; her paternal grandparents: Ruth Rook, of Kalamazoo; Clarence (Sandy) Rook, of Kalamazoo; and by many aunts, uncles, and cousins.
Learn more about Sheela, view her Life Story film, and visit with her family and friends Monday from 4 to 7 p.m. at the Life Story Funeral Home, Plainwell Chapel, 120 S. Woodhams. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Tuesday at the same location.
Please visit Sheela's Memory Page at www.lifestorynet.com, where you can share a favorite memory or photo, sign her memory book online or make a memorial donation to help her sister Ashlee with her education.
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