Sheila Diane Ware

Sheila Diane Ware, of Naples, FL formerly of Kalamazoo and Midland, MI, passed away on Tuesday, August 15, 2023, at the age of 85. She was a resident at Bentley Village in Naples Florida for many years. She was born to the late Harold and Dorothy Robinson in January of 1938. Sheila graduated from High School in 1956, and was immediately accepted into the Nursing Program at Bronson Hospital, School of Nursing in Kalamazoo, MI, known now as the Western Michigan University, School of Nursing, graduating in 1960 as a Registered Nurse. Sheila endured many life events, not the least of which was falling off a tandem bicycle that broke while riding on Mackinac Island with her husband, resulting in multiple injuries, the most severe, a broken jaw requiring it to be wired shut, and all of this, during the last months of her pregnancy, with her first child. A few months later, she lost her Mother and Brother in a car accident, which fortunately her father survived. Sheila experienced many tragic events; she always bounced back with grace and a wonderful outlook on life going forward. Sheila kept in touch with friends throughout her life, especially, her nursing school friends. A quote she displayed in her kitchen reads "Good friends are like stars. You don't always see them, but you know they're always there." Her nursing school friends were those stars for Sheila, they were always there for each other. She was an active member of a Kalamazoo Tennis Group, better known as the "Blue Nuns" based on the fact that they went for lunch after tennis and enjoyed a glass of "Blue Nun" wine. She also enjoyed her relationships formed with her golf groups at Bonita Bay and the Kalamazoo Country Club. She enjoyed traveling with her husband, Jim on various business trips to South America, Europe and Southwest Asia. Sheila will be remembered fondly by her family and friends having achieved many accomplishments in her career and social groups, but she would want to be remembered above all, as a wonderful wife and mother. She leaves behind her beloved husband James S. Ware; son, Stephen J. Ware and his wife Jane; her grandchildren Tara and Samuel Ware and her brother David Robinson. Along with her parents she was also preceded in death by her daughter Cynthia Diane (Ware) Brill and her brother Stephen Robinson. Per her request, no services will be held in Florida at this time, the family invites you to honor Sheila’s life in your own way. Services in Michigan, are not finalized and will be held with due notice given with burial in Riverside Cemetery, Kalamazoo, MI. The family would like to thank the staff of Bentley Village Care Center for the care provided to Sheila. In lieu of flowers please consider donations in Sheila’s name be made to the Bentley Village Foundation. Arrangements are being handled by the Shikany’s Bonita Funeral Home Family Owned and Operated Since 1978.

Sheila Diane Ware

January 13, 1938 - August 15, 2023