SHEILA FLANIGAN DENDAHL
Sheila Flanigan Dendahl, 84, passed peacefully on October 24, 2023.
She was born in Columbus, Ohio on November 12, 1938, where she lived until her graduation from The Academy of St. Mary of the Springs in 1957. She attended college at the University of Colorado (“CU”) in Boulder, CO. At CU, she joined the Delta Gamma sorority and through the sorority’s socials, met John H. Dendahl. They were married in September of 1958 and began a family in July of 1959. Even with the full-time job of being a mother to two young daughters, Sheila tenaciously stuck to her educational goals and graduated from CU in 1961 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Education.
Following graduation, she and John settled in his hometown of Santa Fe, New Mexico and also lived for a short time in Colorado Springs during which time they had three additional daughters. In 1967, they purchased a home in Tesuque Village outside of Santa Fe, where Sheila resided for the next 53 years.
Once her daughters reached school age, Sheila worked for a number of years as a dental office manager and later became a successful real estate agent.
Sheila was an avid bridge player, playing weekly well into her later years. In addition to bridge, she enjoyed playing pinochle and other card games, Scrabble and completing her daily puzzles - the crossword, Jumble, Cryptoquip and Sudoku. She loved to cook and enjoyed hosting beautiful dinner parties. She also adored her gardens and was a past member of the Santa Fe Garden Club. Her summer gardens were awash with beautiful flowers and frequented by scores of hummingbirds.
If asked, Sheila would say that her greatest accomplishment was her five daughters. Her happiest times were when she was spending time with her family and her beloved dogs.
Sheila will be remembered as a wonderful mother, good friend to all who knew her, prankster, animal lover and for her selfless acts of kindness and generosity.
Sheila is preceded in death by her parents, James C. and Elizabeth C. (“Libby”) Flanigan and her brother, James T. (“Tim”) Flanigan.
She is survived by her five daughters: Debra (Fred) Hadley, Katherine Dendahl, Lisa Dendahl, Ellie Dendahl (Jeff Thurston), and Karen (“KK”) Dendahl (Cooper Millard); four grandchildren; Anderson Hadley, Katrina Hadley, Autumn (Malcolm) Thomas and Sophia West; great-grandson, MJ Thomas; and her beloved rescue dog, Billy.
A private memorial for Sheila will be held at a later date. The family is truly appreciative of the expressions of sympathy they have received.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made in Sheila’s memory to the Alzheimer’s Association or an animal welfare organization of the donor’s choice.