Sheila Mary (Godwin) Berninger

Sheila M. Berninger, nee Godwin, died Wednesday, September 29, 2021, from pneumonia, in Dover DE.  She is survived by Oscar, her husband of 59 years; four children: Mike, Bob, Tom and Carolyn; their spouses: Nora, Amy and Mark; and seven grandchildren: Evelyn, William, Ben, Emma, Ella, Avery and Hadley.  Sheila was the daughter of Joseph and Esther Godwin, Wilkes-Barre, PA, and sister to Jerry and James.

Sheila had a gifted voice and graduated from Misericordia University, Dallas PA with a degree in Music. She sang many lead roles in community theater groups in Wilkes Barre, PA, and Chapel Hill and Durham, NC.  She performed regularly with the Durham Savoyards, Ltd, Durham Civic Choral Society, as soloist in regional concerts, as a Cantor for her church and at many weddings, especially those of her children, all with noteworthy critical acclaim.  She placed second in a national Catholic music competition as a teenager.  She particularly loved roles in opera, Gilbert and Sullivan, and musicals.  In '71, Sheila was a judge in the Miss NC Competition.

Later in life, Sheila became a certified nanny establishing loving relationhips that became friendships which lasted until her death.

But, more importantly, Sheila loved her family.  She was a generous, loving, loyal, fun loving, Irish spirited woman with a definite mind of her own and a passion for shopping, and interior decorating.

Her viewing and vigil will occur Thurs. October 7, 6-8 PM, at the Pippin Funeral Home,  119 W. Camden Wyoming Avenue, Wyoming, DE  followed by a Mass of Christian Burial, Fri. October 8, at 12 noon, at the Church of the Holy Cross, 631 S. State St., Dover DE.

Instead of flowers, the family is suggesting a donation in Sheila's name to the Holy Cross Samaritans (a food pantry serving the poor) 631 S. State Street, Dover DE 19901.

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