Sheila Henderson Lauda passed away on Thursday, September 5, 2019.She was 79 years old and a resident of Aliso Viejo, CA.She was known as Sheila to her family and friends, while her grandchildren lovingly referred to her as Nana.Her passing was sudden and unexpected, but she died peacefully, in her sleep and at her home.

Sheila was born on August 12, 1940 in West Palm Beach, Florida.She was born to Michael Henderson and Monica DeLate.Years later she would be blessed with three wonderful siblings – her brother Michael and her sisters, Lori and Maggi.

Sheila lived a very full life.After growing up in Florida, she moved to California and became a Nun with the Sisters of St. Joseph in Orange.Years later, she would leave the convent to live with her father in Hawaii.It was in Hawaii that she met the love of her life, Donald Paul Lauda.After 3 short months of courtship, Donald and Sheila were married.They remained married until the day of her passing, over 50 years later.

Sheila spent much of her life helping others.She earned a Bachelor's Degree from Loyola Marymount University and a Master of Social Work from the University of Illinois. Thereafter, she earned the Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) credential.Her career was devoted to helping others and supporting the community.She did so at many important institutions including: Sarah Bush Lincoln Hospital (Mattoon, IL), the Charleston School District (Charleston, IL) and Huntington Hospital (Pasadena, CA).She would finish her career in private practice.

She loved her family, especially her grandchildren.She loved helping others, creating beautiful floral arrangements, travel and reading a good book.She was quick to laugh and unerringly polite though she was known to say, "Damn it, Don!"

In her later years she underwent multiple back surgeries and spent much of her final years in pain.Though she went too soon, we are happy that her pain is gone, and she is at peace.

Sheila is survived by her husband, Donald Paul Lauda.She is survived by her son, Daren Michael Lauda, his wife Rochelle and their two children – Aidan and Alexis; and her daughter Tanya Lauda O'Hara, her husband Kenneth and their sons Jack and Liam.She is survived by her siblings, Lori Palfrey and Maggi Tabano. She always considered herself a second mother to Thomas Jeffrey Lauda and grandmother to Orion Lauda and Aaron Lauda.

A "Celebration of Life" will be held at the home of Daren and Rochelle Lauda on Friday, September 13, 2019 from 1:00 PM to 3:00 PM.Please contact Daren or Tanya for the details.Daren can be reached at +1 (949) 307-9250.Tanya can be reached at +1 (781) 521-4917.

Sheila kept a Buddhist saying by her bedside that sums up what she believed was important in life, "In the end, only three things matter: how much you loved, how gently you lived, and how gracefully you let go things not meant for you."These were words that she lived by.

In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to Sheila's favorite charity, St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital.

LINK: https://www.stjude.org/donate/donate-to-st-jude.html?sc_icid=wtg-lz-donatenow