Sheila Duerden, 75

FORT MYERS, FLA. ­ Sheila Ester (Gershman) Levine Duerden, of Fort Myers,  died Jan. 18 in Fort Myers.  Born in Pawtucket, formerly of Providence and Cranston, she was a resident of Fort Myers for 31 years.

Daughter of the late Harry and Miriam (Pomarans) Gershman. Wife of the Phillip Levine and wife for 18 years of the late Edward Francis Duerden of Ft. Myers.  Beloved mother of Lisa Levine Genzer of Indian Rocks Beach, Fla. and stepmother of Christopher (Georgia) Duerden and Jamine Duerden all of Florida. Cherished grandmother of Justin Ingram Simmons, Chelsea Duerden and Madeleine Rodriguez. Caring companion of Samuel Frazer of Fort Myers,  sister of Phyllis Goldberg of West Palm Beach, Fla.

In Rhode Island, Shelia was a past president of Pawtucket Hadassah and a former member of Temple Beth-El and Temple Sinai. A longtime entrepreneur in the retail industry, she owned and operated Sportsmania at Fleamasters for the past 25 years. As an active member of Temple Beth-El in Fort Myers, she has been recognized for her outstanding fundraising efforts on behalf of the temple as a facilitator of the monthly Mah Jongg tournaments. A skilled tournament Mah Jongg player, she also excelled in canasta and bridge.  These were some of her spare time passions. Always with a smile, her wit and sense of humor endeared her to a wide circle of friends and her family.

Contributions in Sheila’s memory to the Temple Beth-El Religious School Fund, 16225 Winkler Ave., Ft. Myers, Fla.  33908 or to Central Florida Hillel for Taglit-Birthright Israel, 3925 Lockwood Blvd., Orviedo, Fla. 32765.