Kathryn Sheila Colbrese (Clancey)
May 4, 1949 – August 16, 2026
Kathryn Sheila Colbrese (Clancey) passed away peacefully on August 16, 2026, at the age of 77, following a 17-year journey with dementia. Born on May 4, 1949, in Havre, Montana, Sheila was raised as the second of seven children born to WWII veterans—Katherine, a Navy nurse and Murel Francis, a Navy officer. Her proud Irish heritage and devout Catholic faith anchored a life defined by extraordinary intelligence, fierce independence, and unwavering conviction.
A lifelong learner with a sharp mind, Sheila earned a Master’s degree in English and a Certificate in Education after studying at the Eastern Montana College, University of Montana and Seattle Pacific University. Early in her career, she taught English and coached volleyball in Power, Montana. She then put her teaching career on hold to spend nearly 16 dedicated years as a full-time stay-at-home mom, pouring everything into raising Erin and Jenny, coaching Erin’s youth soccer teams, and instilling in her daughters the absolute belief that they could be anything they wanted to be.
When she returned to the classroom, she taught English and Journalism at Lake Washington High School in Kirkland, Washington. Known for her clarity, quick mind, and deep commitment to her students, her high school kids affectionately called her “Mama Colbrese.”
Sheila was, in every sense, a genius and a rebel—obsessively curious, fascinated by computers and tech long before it was mainstream, and completely incapable of tolerating pretense. She was always remarkably clear about where she stood. She possessed a legendary sense of sarcasm paired with a warm, big smile and a contagious laugh. Though unabashedly anti-social and protective of her quiet time, her heart was vast. She was a natural creator who loved to bake, garden, and cross-stitch. She held a deep soft spot for animals, had an endless capacity for “loving the unloved,” and appreciated good coffee, Mexican food, a great cheeseburger, and the color purple.
Above all, her deepest devotion belonged to her daughters, her family, and the animals she cherished.
Sheila is survived by her two daughters, Erin (Bend, OR) and Jennifer and her husband Jordan (Monroe, WA); her grandsons, Tannen and Aiden; and her siblings, Mike, Mary, Martha, Chris, and Pat. She was preceded in death by her parents and her brother John.
