Sheila F. Brainerd

Sheila F. Brainerd, 88, entered into eternal rest on Wednesday, April 7, 2021. She was the daughter of William and Mildred (Mulheron) FitzPatrick.  Born in Brooklyn, New York, her family moved to Springfield where she graduated from Cathedral High School. She enjoyed summers with family in Swanton, Vermont. After high school she was employed by AT&T (later Verizon) as a switchboard operator, and married her loving husband Roy Brainerd, who predeceased her in 2011 after 55 years of marriage. She also leaves two sons, Edward Brainerd of Agawam, MA and Steven Brainerd of Dalton, MA, a granddaughter, Amber Brainerd of Agawam, and two grandsons, Daniel and Troy Brainerd of Dalton.

The family moved to East Longmeadow in 1960, and she left the phone company to be at home with her sons, returning later to finish her career and retire from customer support at Verizon in 1987. She was a devoted, loving wife and mother who loved most of all spending time with her family at home. She also loved music and small animals.

Services will be private for the family and have been entrusted to Forastiere Smith Funeral & Cremation.