Sheila Barbara Phoebus (nee Arnolda)
14 August 1927 – 15 November 2022
Appreciation
Sheila Barbara Phoebus (nee Arnolda)
14 August 1927 – 15 November 2022
Aunt Sheila was born into the exuberant Arnolda family in Ceylon & was one of 12 siblings (9 girls & 3 boys). She inherited the love of family from her parents, Lawrence & Lillian as well as her siblings, & spread that love like wildfire amongst everyone she met.
She was not only very beautiful, but had the most vivacious of smiles & a bubbly personality. She was the bridesmaid that everyone picked. Her caring temperament made her pursue a nursing career.
She worked as a Nursing sister at Durdans Private Hospital in Colombo and was a ray of sunshine to her patients. She met the dashingly handsome young pilot of the Royal Ceylon Air Force, uncle Mike, when he was a patient there. He fell head over heels in love with her charm & beauty – his very own Florence Nightingale.
Uncle Mike was in the first batch of RCyAF cadets from Ceylon to be sent overseas for training as pilots. He was the love of Aunty Sheila’s life & she was extremely supportive of his career as a Squadron Leader & Chief of Staff in the Colombo region at Air Force Headquarters in McCallum Road. She balanced motherhood with great aplomb with the
birth of their children, Michele, Brandt Melanie & later Mark in Australia. That love extended not only to their own children but also to the many nieces & nephews.
It’s ironic that Aunt Sheila fell in love with an Air Force Pilot during peace time. During the instability of World War II, most of the Arnolda siblings worked in non-combatant roles in the Royal Air Force & Military. As young kids, we used to be in awe of their stories & the friendships they made. The love of music by the family brought the12 siblings even closer & to this day has left an indelible mark in all our lives. Not only were the songs “It’s a long way to Tipperary” and “Show me the way to go home” all-time family favourites, but also the beautiful melodies,“Side by Side” & “My Blue Heaven” which are still played over the airways.
I’d like to add that the year Aunty Sheila was born, 25 year old Charles Lindbergh, American aviator, military officer, author, inventor and activist, made the first non-stop flight from New York to Paris on “The Spirit of St. Louis”, a 220 horsepower monoplane.
May Aunty Sheila’s soul soar to Heaven on the wings of a dove to join her beloved Mike & son Brandt
In loving memory
Alix & family
