Sydney Weaver Schultheis, a long time former resident of Manchester, CT died on May 29th, 2016 in Mystic, CT at the age of 87. She was the beloved wife of Walter Schultheis and cherished mother of Peter, Alexander and Douglas. She was adored by her grandchildren Helen, Laurel, Andrew, Eric and Christian.
Sydney grew up in Riverside, CT, graduating from Greenwich High School and then from Wheelock College in Boston where she majored in early childhood education and art. She and Walter were married in June 1951 and she soon began teaching kindergarten at the Manchester Green School. She taught kindergarten at a number of Manchester schools before retiring in 1985 after 20 years of service. She was much beloved by the children and the parents of the school communities she served.
Sydney earned a Masters degree in Art Education in 1974 from the University of Hartford and as a volunteer, taught art classes at the Lutz Junior Museum and the Children’s Museum in West Hartford. After graduation she began taking art lessons and as a result produced many imaginative paintings in multiple media. Her work was recognized in art shows two times in recent years after her husband’s retirement. Sydney was an avid tennis player and an active outdoor person who loved skiing, snowshoeing, hiking, sailing and travel. The Schultheis family spent many summers at the Rhode Island shoreline community called Quonochontaug. They remember her there, as an avid tennis player and a dedicated participant in the 4th of July parades. Her vibrancy, fun loving nature and artistic flair will be missed, but not forgotten.
In 2008, after her diagnosis with Alzheimer’s, she and Walter moved from Vermont to the StoneRidge Retirement Community in Mystic, CT to be closer to family.
Funeral services will be held at St. Mark’s Episcopal Church in Mystic at 11:30am on June 6th, 2016. A celebration of her life will be held at StoneRidge, 186 Jerry Browne Road, Mystic, CT following the church service. A private burial will be held in the River Bend Cemetery in Westerly.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in her memory to the Alzheimer’s Foundation. Please visit alz.org
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