Obituary of Sheila Beman

BEMAN-Sheila Anne Beman, age 53, beloved wife of Leland H. Beman of Rock Hill, SC, died April 1, 2012 at the Hospice House of Union County, NC. Born in New York City on February 13, 1959, she was the daughter of Joseph F. Connolly, MD of Shelton and Anne Neville Perler of Huntington. Mrs. Beman was raised in Trumbull and graduated from St. Joseph's High School in 1976. She studied accounting at the Stone Academy Business School. Mrs. Beman worked for the U.S. Repeating Arms Co. and lived in the greater New Haven area, including West Haven, Oxford and Cheshire for many years, until moving to South Carolina 12 years ago. In South Carolina she worked as a hospice volunteer and was active in delivering meals to the homeless. Together with her husband, she enjoyed traveling to many destinations, including a Hawaiian Cruise; cooking exotic meals and spending time in the outdoors with her golden retrievers. In addition to her husband of 18 years and parents, she is survived by devoted children, Jeffrey David "JD" Gilmore of Shelton, Jennifer (Craig) Lerman of GA and Jonathan Gilmore of IL; brothers, Joseph F. Connolly, Jr. of Derby, Shaun N. Connolly of Bridgeport and Brian P. (Erica) Connolly of NJ; cherished grandchildren, Kendra, Alexander, Joshua and Zachary Lerman of GA. She is also survived by her stepmother, Cynthia Connolly of Shelton and was predeceased by her stepfather, S. Roy Perler. A Memorial Mass, MEETING DIRECTLY AT CHURCH, will be celebrated on Wednesday, April 11, 2012, at 11:00 AM in St. Lawrence Church, 505 Shelton Ave., Huntington. Memorial donations may be made to the Hospice of Union County, 700 W. Roosevelt Boulevard, Monroe, NC 28110. The Wakelee Memorial Funeral Home, 167 Wakelee Ave., Ansonia is in care of arrangements. Online condolences may be made at www.wakeleememorial.com.