Obituary of Sheila Ann Coughlin

Sheila Ann Coughlin, formerly Hillman, cherished daughter, accomplished wife, and beloved mother, passed away peacefully early Friday May 5, 2023. . Growing up in Weymouth, MA, with her mother, Marie, and older brother, Jerome, she spent many happy summer days at Fearing Pond in Plymouth with her uncle, Laurence Seufert. From him she learned enough to make her an amateur plumber and overall fixer-upper for the rest of her life. 

She was also an incredible athlete. A State Diving Champion in DE in her early teens, she was also captain and star of her high school basketball team, and later enjoyed hours of competitive volleyball, football, and baseball with her family and friends at her home in Duxbury, MA. She danced competitively in her youth and appeared on Paul Whitman's TV Teen Club in Philadelphia with her partner, Robert Seufert. 

Sheila graduated from Boston’s Fisher Junior College in 1957, and went to work for two years in New York city as a secretary. In time, Sheila and her mother, Marie, who were living together, decided to move back to Weymouth, MA. Her brother, Jerry, had attended the US Merchant Marine Academy at King’s Point, where his best friend was Thomas Coughlin, another cadet who was a year older. 

This is how Sheila Hillman met her husband. They married in 1963. Tom remained in the merchant service for the early years of the marriage, while Sheila stayed at home. They moved from Melrose to Plimpton, MA, where their first son, Sean, was born in 1965. Kerry and Ryan soon followed. Tom then left the merchant service to begin building their importing/exporting business, of which Sheila was a vital part as buyer and decorator. 

Their big break came when restauranteur Anthony Athanas of Boston’s famous Anthony’s Pier 4 had themacquire, transport, and tie-up alongside the restaurant an old and colorful working steamship, The Peter Stuyvesant. Sheila and Tom were on their way. They had their first of many gift shops on a lower deck where they sold their goods for many years. The ship sank in the Blizzard of ’78, and a memorable cover of the Boston Globe featured the doomed steamship. They travelled extensively for work and fun, taking trips to such places as Aspen, Bermuda, Jamaica, London, and Nassau in the Bahamas, and took annual ski trips to North Conway, NH. Sheila and Tom enjoyed a wonderful life at their homes in Duxbury, MA, and in Palm Beach, FL. 

She is survived by her husband, Thomas Coughlin, of Duxbury, MA. By her son, Sean, and his wife, Maryanne, of Acton, MA. By grandchildren, Thomas and Owen. By her son, Kerry (married to the late Christine Coughlin) of Duxbury, MA. By grandchild, Madeline. And by her son, Ryan, and his wife Nancy of San Clemente, CA. By grandchildren, Kerry, Isabella, Sean and Ryan Angela. Sheila will be sorely missed, and her memory cherished.

Visiting hours will be held at the Shepherd Funeral Home, 216 Main St. Kingston on Thursday, May 11 from 3:00 to 7:00p.m. A private grave side service will be on Friday May 12.