Sheila M. Zimmer
Sheila Roach Zimmer, 74, of Oak Lawn, Illinois, passed away peacefully at home surrounded by her loving family on September 7, 2026.
Sheila was born on May 3, 1952, in Chicago, Illinois, to James and Adele (Goulet) Roach. A woman of sterling character, Sheila dedicated her earthly life to her family as a loving wife and mother, raising five children. She blessed her family’s home with an appreciation for music (the Beatles, Queen, and ABBA, in particular) and several dogs over the years. These included a champion Akita in the 1970s, rescue Clumber Spaniels, a couch-potato Leonberger, and a Bernese Mountain Dog that the family still talks about decades later. Sheila took great pride in her Irish heritage, to which she attributed her gift of gab (having never met a stranger) and outsized fear of snakes. She also steadfastly maintained that her mother descended from French aristocrats fleeing the Revolution and refused to believe the genealogical research that indicated her ancestors were, at best, French Canadian.
A devout Roman Catholic, Sheila was quick to pray the Rosary for those in need. She would appreciate prayers on her behalf. Later in life, Sheila took great joy in participating in the WAGS Program at Palos Community Hospital, visiting the sick with her faithful therapy dog Shakira.
She will be deeply missed by her husband of 51 years, Robert, and her five children: Diane Zimmer (Michael Simkhin) of Oak Lawn, Illinois; Robert (Holly) of Lemont, Illinois; James of Chicago, Illinois; Alison (Theodore) Gemkow of La Grange, Illinois; and Ann (Richard) Bretzer of La Grange, Illinois.
Sheila cherished her role as “Gram” to her 11 grandchildren: Liam, Moira, Dylan, Ellie, Michael, Sheila, Robert, James, Emilia, Cormac, and Richard, the newest addition to the family.
She was preceded in death by her parents, James and Adele, and her three brothers, James, William, and Robert.
Funeral Thursday September 10th, 10:15 am from Thompson & Kuenster Funeral Home, 5570 W. 95th St. in Oak Lawn to St. Linus Church for Mass at 11:00 am.
Interment Holy Sepulchre Cemetery.
Visitation Wednesday, September 9th from 3:00 pm until 8:00 pm.
Memorials to WAGS (Wonderful Animals Giving Support) is the animal-assisted therapy program at Northwestern Medicine Palos Hospital in Palos Heights, Illinois.