Sheila Jalutkewicz Obituary

Sheila Ann (Caouette) Jalutkewicz succumbed to complications from Alzheimer’s after a protracted struggle with the disease on Friday, January 17, 2025. 

Sheila was born on January 11, 1945, in Syracuse, New York, as the first child of Normand R. Caouette and Maxine V. (Forth) Caouette. 

Sheila graduated from Gardner High School in 1963 and went on to earn a BA from the University of New Hampshire (UNH) and a master’s degree from Fitchburg State University. Immediately upon graduation from UNH she taught history and geography in the North Middlesex Regional School District and coached both field hockey and softball there. After a hiatus from working outside the home to raise her young family, Sheila returned as the manager, and later owner/manager, at R. Smith Furniture in Gardner. During her time at R. Smith, she was very involved in the greater Gardner business community. 

While Sheila worked in Gardner, she and her family resided in Lunenburg. Once their home was an empty nest, Sheila and her husband John moved to Rindge New Hampshire where they spent many happy years. Once fully retired the pair lived in Asheville, NC before moving to Wells, Maine for the duration of their retirement. During all those years they enjoyed regional and national travel, attending live music and theater events, and spending time with family. 

Sheila dedicated much of her life to volunteering with Girl Scouts. In her youth, she regularly attended summer camp at Camp Collier in Gardner and participated in the Girl Scout National Senior Round Up in Button Bay, Vermont in 1962. She shared her love of Scouting, especially of camping, as a troop leader in Lunenburg. Given her penchant for dedicated and decisive leadership, Sheila’s role in the Girl Scouts grew to the chair of the regional John Fitch Association and later the president of the Montachusett Girl Scout Council, which served all of Worcester County. 

Sheila is predeceased by her parents, her brother James, and her beloved husband of 56 years, John W. Jalutkewicz. She is survived by her daughter, Jane, and son-in-law Jim; her son, Jay; daughter-in-law Ginny and grandson, Hudson. 

The family is very grateful to the staff at Avita of Wells, the nurses and volunteers of Gentiva hospice, and Jean Nolan who spent time with Sheila nearly every day in her last year as her companion and friend. 

Services will be private and held at the convenience of the family. 

People wishing to remember Sheila may best do so by making a donation in her memory to the Alzheimer’s Association, 225 North Michigan Avenue, Floor 17, Chicago, IL 60601 or on their website at (www.alz.org).