Hundreds turn out to mourn charity stalwart Sheila Tributes paid after Enable Club leader loses battle with cancer
26.07.2017 Hundreds gathered to pay respects to the late Sheila Cant MBE at Woodside Crematorium yesterday.
Friends, family and ex- colleagues mourned the loss of the retired nurse, who was also club leader and chairperson of the Enable Club in Sandy Road.
Sheila, who lived and worked in Renfrew all her life, lost her battle with lung cancer on July 14, aged 78.
Friend Charlie Newlands MBE and fellow chairperson of the Enable Club said the funeral was a fitting tribute to the charity stawart.
He told: “It was a spectacular turn out, the crematorium was full to overflowing with people.
“Neighbours, friends and members of the various clubs Sheila was involved with all were there. It was a lovely send-off.”
Sheila played a big part in the Renfrew community, which meant a lot to her.
Having never married, she poured all her focus and efforts into her professional life, working all her years to help local people.
She was a dedicated committee member of the Enable Club, which supports people with disabilities and their families.
Sheila was the longest serving committee member, serving at the Renfrew Club for 48 years.
During her time there, she worked as leader from 1971 until her death and chairperson from 1990 until 2009.
The caring community member organised and staffed the Enable holidays for 28 years, in farmhouses at Turnberry, church halls in Rothesay and at Butlins Holiday Camp in Ayr.
She took pride in organising the pantomimes over the last 14 years and was awarded her Renfrew Branch Honorary Membership in 1992.
Her biggest honour was being awarded an MBE for Services to the Handicapped in 1995.
As well as her services to Enable, Sheila spent all of her working life in nursing and was employed at the Western Infirmary where she rose to the position of senior nursing officer.
She was held in high regard among members of the profession for the training she supplied to many young nurses and doctors before retiring in 1998.
Charlie said that Sheila will be remembered for her services to locals in the community.
He added: “Sheila was a real character, very straight forward. She was inclusive and always encouraged people to take part in things.
“She was a career woman, who was very much dedicated to nursing, volunteering and charity work.
“She touched many lives in her lifetime and will be greatly missed.”