Mary Sheila Mittelholzer

Mary Sheila Mittelholzer (née D’Ornellas) passed away peacefully on October 15th, 2022, in Rockville, MD. She was born on November 16th, 1928, in Georgetown, British Guiana, South America (now Guyana) to the late Charles Conrad D’Ornellas and Josephine D’Ornellas (née David). She is predeceased by her husband, Sydney Paul Mittelholzer, and her treasured eldest son, Bruce Andrew Mittelholzer. 

She is survived by her beloved children: son Simon A. Mittelholzer (Linda),daughter Peeta N. Woolsey (David), son Dominic P. Mittelholzer (Deborah); by her loving grandchildren Courtney Kelsey (Michael), Allyson Michael (Sean), Amanda Woolsey-Carnahan (Tyler), Emily Mittelholzer, Matthew Woolsey, and Olivia Mittelholzer and her great-grandchild Sydney Lynn Kelsey. She is also survived by her younger sister, Pamela Glasford.

Mary Sheila, better known as Sheila, was born the 8th of 10 children, and grew up in Georgetown, British Guiana. She met the love of her life, Paul, as a teenager, were married in 1954, and together they raised four children and celebrated 37 years of marriage before his passing on December 26th, 1991.  ​

While her husband, Paul, was stationed in Washington, D.C. as a diplomat with the Guyanese Embassy, she and her children joined him in the United States in October 1971.  After his tour with the embassy finished in 1976, they both made the difficult choice to forfeit their livelihoods in their home country to remain in the States and provide their children with the absolute best opportunities.

Sheila was very strong in her Catholic faith, which served her well during the best and most challenging times in her life. She was a woman of strong convictions and opinions and was always a trendsetter. She had a passion for music, dancing, contemporary fashion and traveled the world extensively with her late husband in their younger years. She enjoyed sewing, embroidery, and baking.  She loved sports of all kinds, having played field hockey in her younger days, and was an avid sports fan, especially for the former Washington Redskins football team. Her family was her number one priority, and her greatest joy was spending time with her grandchildren.

A private family service will be held at St. Mary’s Catholic Church (historic chapel) Rockville, MD on Wednesday, October 26, 2022, followed by internment at St. Mary’s Catholic Cemetery in Rockville, MD, alongside her beloved husband. 

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Casey House - Montgomery Hospice or to the American Heart Association (details below). 

Condolences and tributes may be made by clicking on the Tribute Wall tab above.
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