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Sheila A. Tederous (Christy) (Jan. 29, 1936-Jan. 3, 2018)

Sheila A. Tederous (Christy) Jan. 29, 1936-Jan. 3, 2018

Sheila was a lifelong resident of Dunkirk, New York. Born the second of nine children to Lorraine (Clifford) and Steward J. Christy (both deceased), she was preceded in death by her husband George P. Tederous, and their infant son Patrick.

Sheila was influential in helping to change the traditional expectations of women in the 1960s and 1970s. She was a trailblazer for women’s opportunities and rights who demonstrated leadership skills and risk taking behaviors that were not always encouraged in a male-dominated culture. Sheila was a proud role model whose actions and professional accomplishments demonstrated to her family, friends, and many students that women are more than capable of achieving professional successes outside the home.

At the age of 44, Sheila became one of the first in her family to graduate from college, an accomplishment she achieved while raising her children. She earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Early Childhood Education followed by a Master of Arts in Early and Middle Childhood Education from The State University of New York at Fredonia. While earning her degrees, Sheila was the 1980 recipient of the Helen Buderkin Early Childhood Education Award for excellence in student teaching. After first working as a teacher in the Head Start program, she then enjoyed a successful teaching career with Dunkirk City Schools and is still fondly remembered by many of her former students.

While working at the counter of a Dunkirk bakery, Sheila caught the eye of one of the bakers, George Tederous. After a sassy courtship during which she and George were usually accompanied by at least five of her younger siblings, Sheila agreed to become George’s wife, an arrangement that lasted 60 years. The two became proud parents of six children: Dr. Mary T. Williams, Patrick Tederous (deceased), Tim Tederous (Brenda), Kelly Tederous (Neal Cantrell), Kyle Tederous, and Georgia (Tederous) McGuire (Peter). Her seven grandchildren share memories of different phases of Sheila’s life: Jonathan Williams, Erica (Williams) Briggs (Patrick), Cory Tederous, Todd Tederous (Audrey Wilson), Grace Cantrell, Maria Cantrell, Tess McGuire, and great grandson, Henry George Briggs.

Although Sheila was a gardener and a had a great knowledge of and love for flowers, she asked that, in lieu of sending any, friends might consider a donation to the Ronald McDonald House, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, and/or to the March of Dimes.

Relatives and friends are invited to attend a Life Celebration on Saturday, May 12, 2018 from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. followed by a mass at 11 a.m. This Celebration will be held at St. Joseph Catholic Church, located at 145 East Main Street, Fredonia, New York. Arrangements are by the McGraw-Kowal Funeral Home.