Obituary of Sheila Bula

Sheila Ann Bula, 79, a resident of Westlake Woods, passed on from this Earth on September 10, 2013 with love and contentment in her heart. With her passing, Sheila's past year; which has been a heavy load full of multiple health problems, lifted her soul and she was now given the gift to be at peace and free. Sheila found her greatest joy in time spent with her children, grandchildren, and close friends. Her life had given her many obstacles, but she always found the endurance and patience to move forward…always forward. She never let an opportunity go without acknowledging someone that could benefit from her attention while always expressing her appreciation for those who were there to help her. After graduating from Academy High School, Sheila moved to Washington D.C. to work for the FBI. After a couple years, she moved back to Erie and worked for a local insurance company. She soon met a dashing Air Force veteran, Larry, with whom she soon married and began a family. Sheila is survived by two daughters; Tammy Jackson of Erie, Lynn Minarich (Greg) of Erie, two sons; Mark Bula (Megan) of Cordova, TN, Todd Bula (Carissa) of Warminster, PA, eleven grandchildren: Cody, Billy, Zach, Bobby, Ben, Alex, Kathleen, Collin, Noelle, Timothy, and Ryan, two sisters; Vicki Cavanaugh (Jim) of Pittsburgh, Charlotte Kennedy of Pittsburgh, one brother, Jeff Kennedy, of Erie, one sister-in-law, Shirley Kennedy, of Erie, along with many wonderful cousins, nephews, and in-laws. Sheila was preceded in death by her husband, Lawrence P. Bula, one sister, Denise Kennedy, two brothers; Richard and Terrence Kennedy, and her parents, Adrian and Leona Kennedy. Those of us who are left behind feel the great loss. But we are willing to endure for having had Sheila in our lives. We choose not to cry because she is gone but smile because she was here. At Sheila's request, there will be no funeral services. Arrangements were handled by the Dusckas-Martin Funeral Home and Crematory, Inc., 4216 Sterrettania Rd. Burial will be immediate where she will join her husband, Larry, at Gate of Heaven Cemetery. Donations may be made to Our Lady of Peace (www.olp.org/) or the Gertrude Barber Center (www.barberinstitute.org/) to help honor Sheila's memory.