Sheila Vivian (Gailius) Brennan

Our beloved Sheila Vivian (Gailius) Brennan became one of God’s Angels on the morning of February 11, 2024. Sheila passed away peacefully at the age of 53, in Massachusetts General Hospital after a very short battle with Viral Encephalitis.

Sheila was born on November 27, 1970, in Waltham, Massachusetts. She was a graduate of Waltham High School, Class of 1988, where she was a High Honors student who was deeply involved in Arts and Show Choir. Sheila remained in the music and arts industry as a lead singer in her band ‘Midnite’, with many professional recordings. She continued to write, compose, sing, and play guitar throughout her life. 

Sheila received her Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering, and then her Master of Science in Engineering Management from Northeastern University in Boston Massachusetts. 

Sheila was a leader in the field of engineering, and she was also an accomplished speaker, published writer, editor, and analyst. Sheila had a curious mindset and was an out-of-the-box thinker, always looking for better solutions to make things easier and more efficient. 

Sheila married the love of her life, Kevin Brennan, of New Jersey in October of 2004. They settled in Waltham, having recently bought the home of their dreams in Central Massachusetts in the spring of 2023. Sheila was a devoted and very proud mother to her beautiful daughter Hailey, and her wonderful son Cole. Sheila dedicated her life to her kids’ happiness and education while staying current on social media and keeping family values and spirituality firmly intact. Sheila loved special trips with Kevin, Hailey and Cole to Cape Cod, as well as long drives up to Maine. She also enjoyed staying home to help her children with homework and loved tinkering around in her garden. 

Sheila loved gourmet cooking, creating charcuterie boards, and creating fruit and floral arrangements. She loved drawing, water and oil painting, and all animals of nature including hummingbirds and her beloved rescue cat, Mr. Nick. 

Sheila was an extremely spiritual gifted healer, and empath. She found her inner-peace and solace while playing guitar and singing, as well as through meditation and healing with her crystals. Sheila was a very kind, sensitive, and healing soul who assisted her friends and family as needed through Reiki ‘energy’ work.

Sheila was the youngest “S” of four daughters to the late Colonel Arthur Vytautus and Irene Bernice (Bovat) Gailius. Sheila leaves behind her husband of 19 years, Kevin Brennan; her daughter Hailey (18) and son Cole (16). In addition to her family, Sheila is survived by her three sisters and their families, Suzanne (Gailius) Alter and her husband Robert Alter of Dunstable, Massachusetts, Sandy Gailius-Garman and her husband Richard Garman and their two daughters Rachel and Sarah of Natick, Massachusetts, and Sharon (Gailius) DiCicco and her husband Stephen DiCicco and their two sons, Dante and Dominic of Mont Vernon, New Hampshire.

Family and Friends will honor and remember Sheila’s life by gathering for calling hours at Joyce Funeral Home at 245 Main Street (Rt 20), Waltham, MA. https://www.joycefuneralhome.com/ on Friday February 23rd from 4:00 PM to 7:00 PM, and again on Saturday morning February 24th from 9:00 AM-10:30 AM for a prayer followed by procession to the Sacred Heart Parish on 311 River Street in Waltham, where Sheila’s funeral Mass will be celebrated at 11 AM. To watch a livestream of Sheila’s Funeral Mass please visit: https://www.sacredheart311.com/watch-match   

We ask for prayers of peace and comfort as our beloved Sheila is welcomed into the Kingdom of Heaven as their newest Angel. 

In lieu of Flowers, donations in Sheila’s memory can be made to: 

Mass General Neurology for Encephalitis Research and Care, 

MGH Development Office Attn: Kylie Baruffi, 125 Nashua Street, Ste 540, Boston, MA 02114 

Make a Donation in Memory of Sheila Brennangiving.massgeneral.org