Theresa "Tess" Sheil, 70, of New York, passed away Thursday August 11, 2022 at New York Presbyterian Hospital Lawrence, Bronxville, New York.

Funeral services will be 10:00am Friday August 26, 2022 at St. Pius X Catholic Church, Rock Island, those unable to attend may view the streaming service online at https://vimeo.com/741879164. A time for friends to visit and pay their respects will be from 9:00 service time at church. Entombment will follow in Calvary Cemetery, Rock Island. Memorials may be left in her memory to Scott Community College or American Red Cross. Wheelan-Pressly Funeral Home and Crematory, Rock Island is assisting the family.

She was born on September 12, 1951 in Davenport, the daughter of Joseph Glenn and Arlyne (Duckett) Sheil. She was a graduate of Eastern Iowa Community College, Iowa Lakes Community College School of Nursing as a Registered Nurse, Saint Joseph's College with a Bachelor Degree in Science, College of New Rochelle receiving her Master's Degree in Science, New York Medical College with a Graduate Certificate.

Tess retired in 2014 from the New York City Department of Education as the citywide supervisor of Nursing Programs. Following her retirement, she called both Illinois and New York home. Previously she had been employed as an New York City School District Administrator, Assistant Principal at Grace Dodge Vocational High School and the Manhattan School for Career Development, both of New York.

For half a century, Tess Sheil had faithfully volunteered her time and talents for the American Red Cross. She was the proud recipient of jewelry designer David Yurman's Angel Award for her post 9/11 Red Cross deployment and Honored by the Red Cross with the Clara Barton Award for the Greater New York Region. Tess was a volunteer with the Red Cross Quad Cities and West Central Illinois and the Greater New York Chapter. She has helped countless people as a registered nurse and health services volunteer and as a disaster mental health volunteer, logging thousands of volunteer hours in the process. She was working in a school in New York the day the Twin Towers were hit during the 9/11 attacks, and responded to try and help as many people as she could.

Her experience in New York led her to focus on mental health support at the Red Cross. She has served as the lead for the Red Cross National Staff Support Hotline, where staff or volunteers can call and receive help and advice.

Captain Tess enjoyed deep sea diving and captaining boats for fishing tournaments in Puerto Rico, Aruba, Dominican Republic, Costa Rica and Venezuela.

Survivors include her sister, Mary Lou (James) Hammer, of Palatine, Illinois; dear friend, Yvonne Neal, of New York; and several nieces, nephews and cousins.

She was preceded in death by her parents.