by Jayne Bonilla

Created on: June 29, 2008

Sheila's Magic Wand

"The Good Fairy may be gone, but her magic will live on forever, as long as we believe." Sheila was the "good" fairy to all who were fortunate enough to know her. She was my cousin, but more like a sister. She was a kindergarten teacher but more like a friend. She was a mother but more like a mentor. And her optimistic attitude toward life could capture you in her spell; if you were lucky.

Sheila Strunk taught kindergarten for thirty-five years. She believed in empowering children to make their own magic. Sheila was famous for having a "magic wand" which she carried everywhere she went. She waved it to turn frowns into smiles, tears into laughter and disappointment into hope. Sheila waved her wand locally, shipped her wand across the county and shared her wand with countless individuals in need of a dose of optimism. She even tapped the tummies of infertile friends who were struggling to conceive. Sheila's wand produced amazing results. Or was it the power of positive thinking?

Then a few years ago, Sheila was diagnosed with Advanced Stage Ovarian Cancer. While we all wept at the tragic news, Sheila insisted we remain positive and used her wand on all of us. She fought her illness like a General who forges into battle, using her wand to lead her troops. And Sheila marched on, long after she was expected to. She continued to turn our sorrow into joy, our worries into comfort and our seriousness into humor. She exemplified the true meaning of positive living, waving her wand all the while.

Then Sheila sadly passed away. But most importantly she passed on her wand and all that she stood for. Now Sheila's daughters' and granddaughters' wield it and spread its magic on a regular basis. After all, it's never been about the wand. It's always been about Sheila's Magic.

From as far back as she can remember

When Sheila was a little girl she only wished one thing,
To make the world a better place through the love that she would bring.
While others saw a rainy storm as ruining their day,
Sheila craved the rainbow that she chased while out to play.
While others saw the melting snow as an end to winter fun,
Sheila rejoiced in discovering that spring had now begun.
While others chose to follow the crowd and flocked together like geese,
Sheila stood for what was right and always strived for peace.
While others viewed the flow of tears as a sign of something weak,
Sheila's liquid emotions poured freely down each cheek.
Then Sheila woke one night to find a shimmery, crystal

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