Sheila M. (Kuriger) Chambers, age 70, of Dubuque, was called home suddenly at 10:16 a.m., on Sunday, April 14, 2019, at UnityPoint Health Finley Hospital. To honor Sheila’s life, funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m., on Thursday, April 18, 2019, at the Church of the Nativity, 1225 Alta Vista Street, with Msgr. James L. Miller officiating, where the rosary will be recited by the Nativity Rosary Society at 10:00 a.m. To celebrate Sheila’s life, family and friends may visit from 3:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m., on Wednesday, April 17, 2019, at Behr Funeral Home, 1491 Main Street, where there will be a parish scripture service held at 6:45 p.m. Burial will be in Sacred Heart Cemetery, Monticello, Iowa.

Sheila was born on February 28, 1949, in Anamosa, Iowa, daughter of Bernard and Mary (Minnis) Kuriger.

Sheila attended Sacred Heart School in Monticello and after graduation went on to Clarke College, where she earned her degree in Sociology. She would put that degree to good use in daycare for over 39 years. She was united in marriage to the love of her life, James Chambers, on November 22, 1969, at Sacred Heart Church in Monticello, Iowa, and they would have celebrated their 50th anniversary this year. Sheila was a kind hearted, generous soul, who happily devoted most of her time to caring for others, especially her sister Pat who had Down Syndrome, and many, many day care children throughout the years. She volunteered her time with several organizations including the Ethics Committee at Sunnycrest Manor, the We Care Committee at the Church of the Nativity, helping out at Shalom Retreat Center with whatever was required, as well as being a well liked and well traveled DuRide driver. Sheila’s faith was very important to her and was evidenced by her long time membership with the Church of the Nativity. When she did find a little free time in her days, Sheila was quite content sitting at her sewing machine or craft table creating her next beautiful masterpiece. She was an avid Bears, Iowa Hawkeye and Notre Dame fan. Above all though, family was the most important aspect of Sheila’s life, they always gave her reasons to smile and she looked forward to any time they were able to spend together, especially if the grandchildren were involved. Our hearts are truly broken with the sudden loss of our dear, sweet wife, mom, grandma and sister, but take some comfort in knowing that she is at peace and reunited with all of her loved ones called home ahead of her.

Those left to cherish Sheila’s memory include

her loving husband,
James “Jamie” Chambers, Dubuque, IA;

her children,
Joshua (Kristen) Chambers, Iowa City, IA,
Sean (Nicole) Chambers, Anchorage, AK,
Luke (fiancé Ashley Ager) Chambers, Anchorage, AK
and Seth Chambers, Dubuque, IA;

her grandchildren,
Samuel and Charlie Chambers;

her siblings,
Mary Anne (Frank) Miller, Dubuque, IA,
Kathy Kuriger, Dubuque, IA
and Jack (Renee) Kuriger, Cascade, IA;

2 sisters-in-law,
Mary Lesniak and Dorcey Chambers-Malowieg;

and many nieces and nephews.

Sheila was preceded in death by her parents; and her sister, Pat Kuriger.

Sheila’s family would like to thank all of the first responders, as well as the doctors, nurses and staff of Finley Hospital for their kind, professional and attentive care of Sheila and her entire family.

Memorials will be accepted by the family to be distributed among her favorite charities.

Online condolences may be left for the family at www.behrfuneralhome.com