Shelia Mae Dunfee

Shelia Mae Dunfee, 87, of Crystal Lake, died peacefully on Monday, June 29, 2026.

Shelia was born in Des Moines, Iowa on January 28, 1939, to parents Evan and Irene (nee Wolff) Philp with twin sister Shannon. She was raised in Loup City, Nebraska and graduated from Loup City High School in 1957. She went on to earn her nursing degree from Nebraska Methodist Hospital School of Nursing in Omaha, Nebraska in 1960.

Following her graduation, she moved to Chicago where she met her husband, Richard Dunfee. The couple courted for four months before getting married on November 18, 1961. Together they raised their three children until Richard’s death on February 12, 1996.

Shelia was a dedicated nurse for 30 years, working at Gottlieb Memorial Hospital from 1965-1972, and Ravenswood Hospital from 1973-2000. She specialized in mother/baby care, labor/delivery, and special care nursery. She also volunteered as a school nurse at the elementary school her children attended, as well at the high school where her eldest son Kevin attended.

In 2000, Shelia moved to California for her retirement and stayed with long-time family friend Edwin. While living there, she went on some beautiful trips and developed meaningful friendships. She volunteered at her church, a hospital and a donation center. She took care of her friend Edwin while he was ill. Taking care of people is where she thrived most.

In 2019, she moved back home to Illinois to be closer to her family. She was carefully watched over by her daughter, son-in-law and her grandson, Jerry, whom she always had a very close relationship with. She was blessed with a wonderful staff of caregivers where she lived at an assisted living facility.

Shelia is survived by her son, Michael (Sandra Lee) Dunfee, her daughter, Shelaine (Jeff) Luebking, her daughter-in-law, Elisa (the late Kevin) Dunfee, her grandchildren, Michael Dunfee Jr., Ethan Dunfee, Jerry Moon Jr., Alyssa (Joshua) Foster, Bethany Dunfee, and Dylan Dunfee, her great-grandchildren, Eleanor, Lucas, Sadie, and Aiden, her twin sister, Shannon Walker, and many extended family members and friends.

She was preceded in death by her beloved husband of 34 years, Richard Dunfee, her dear son, Kevin Dunfee, her grandson, Joshua Dunfee, as well as many other close friends and family.

In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to Central Illinois Center for the Blind and Visually Impaired.

A Celebration of Shelia’s Life is being planned for a later date.