Sheila Morris Navratil

Sheila Morris Navratil, 85, former Sandpoint resident, passed away on Monday, October 27, 2014 at Renaissance Assisted Living in Coeur d’ Alene. Services will be at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church on Monday, November 3, 2014 with a Mass of Christian Burial at 11:00 AM with Father Dennis C. Day, officiating. The recitation of the Rosary will be held 7:00PM, Sunday, November 2, 2014 at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church. Interment will be in Pinecrest Memorial Park. Sheila was born in Missoula, MT in 1929, the daughter of George and Beatrice Morris. In Missoula, she attended grade school at St. Francis Xavier and graduated high school from Sacred Heart Academy in 1947. Thus began a lifetime of vocations well-grounded in Catholic faith. She married Theodore “Ted” Navratil on May 6, 1950 shortly before graduating from St. Patrick’s School of Nursing. This union would be blessed by three children, and multiplied tenfold with the “Spiritual adoption” of numerous others drawn toward the loving hospitality of their family. Ted was a professional Forester with the U.S. Forest Service in Missoula, Montana and his career would eventually take them to Idaho, California, and Utah. Sheila lived for a brief time in Texas when Ted was recalled to Korea. Following Ted’s retirement they moved back to Sandpoint, Idaho where Ted had been the District Ranger. Sheila had a passion for life, and in her younger years found enjoyment in being a member of a roller skating club and was even in their revue, Dancing Skates. Ice Skating, skiing, and camping were high on her list of activities. Her quiet hobbies were reading, sewing, knitting, crocheting, and making Rosaries for the Missions. Sheila loved music and loved singing. From grade school on, she sang in choirs and in every parish where she was a member. The pleasure she took from singing truly left her Irish eyes a smiling”. Sheila’s answer to the vocation of Nursing brought many career challenges; Staff Nurse, Relief Charge Nurse, Supervisor, Quality Assurance Nurse, Director of In-service Education and Assistant Director of Nurses. Within the environment of Nursing Sheila was called to yet another vocation, teaching. She developed a program for Davis County School District for a certified Nurse Aid Program for senior high school students, and was also asked by the district to teach the class which was held at the hospital. Sheila was also an active member of Beta Sigma Phi in both Utah and Idaho until the 1990’s. For over 50 years, Sheila ministered to the sick and to those who cared for them. Sheila organized and provided training for the first Respite program in the northern deanery which was at St. Joseph’s parish in Sandpoint. She was active in her parish as Eucharist minister to the home bound, and also served as a Lector at Mass. From her youth, Sheila held a deep devotion for Our Lady. She helped organize the Legion of Mary at St. Joseph’s Parish and was its first president. She became an auxiliary member when her health made it necessary to change her status. She was active in the Marian Movement of Priests, meeting every Thursday morning to pray for Priests. She has been an active participant in adoration of the Holy Eucharist, both at Pius X Parish and St. Joseph’s Parish. On May 15, 2003, she made her promise as a 3rd Order Carmelite, Order of Carmelite Discalced Secular (OCDS). This facet of her prayer life was very important to her. “Sheila, Little Flower of the Crucified,” was her chosen Carmelite name. She is survived by, and no doubt is joyfully awaiting the reunion of her three children: Carol Laurence, Pasadena, CA, Sharon Navratil of Coeur d’ Alene, ID, Steven (Nancy) Navratil, Spokane, WA. Her grandchildren Patrick, Joseph, Libby and Eileen retain a special place in her heart, as do her great grandchildren Alyssa, Gianna, Madeleine, Kilian and Jeremy. She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, her step-father, one brother, two sisters and a great granddaughter, Mackenzie.