It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Sheila McGinley Cornish, 83, of   Ashburn, Virginia on September 26, 2022. She passed away peacefully at home, surrounded by family, as was her wish. Born at home December 28, 1938 in West Haven, Connecticut to William and Eileen McGinley, Sheila always considered herself a Vermonter.

With her former husband, Bruce Cornish, Sheila had four amazing children.  She will be dearly missed by Mike Cornish (Christine Waldron), Kathy (Dave) Dailey, Anne (Ruber) Huertas, and Ellen (Dave) Frey.  Sheila's children were the light of her life…  until the grandchildren came along.  Anyone who ever met Sheila undoubtedly heard stories of her grandchildren, Kaitlyn Dailey, Megan Dailey, Hayden Frey, Erin Frey, Nicky Huertas, Sammy Huertas, and Cassie Huertas. She was incredibly proud of each and every one of them and they felt her unconditional love every day.

Sheila is survived by her beloved sister, Mary McGinley Gibeault (Roger).  She was predeceased by her parents, William & Eileen McGinley, her twin brothers, Bill McGinley and Jerry McGinley, her brother, Pat, her sister, Margaret, and her little brother, John McGinley.  Like any good Irish family, the McGinleys were blessed with lots of children.  Sheila loved staying in touch with her many nieces, nephews, and other members of her extended family.  Unfortunately, there isn't enough room to list them all, but pick an Irish name, and no doubt, we've got at least one!

When JFK said in his inaugural address, "Ask not what your country can do for you, but rather what you can do for your country," Sheila had just graduated from the University of Vermont.  That speech, coupled with her giving heart and adventurous spirit, led her to take her first airplane ride to be one of the first Peace Corps volunteers in the Philippines, where she served from 1962 to 1964.

Married in Vermont in 1964, her adventures then took her to Washington DC and subsequently to Springfield, Virginia.  Sheila had four children in just over five years and if that wasn't challenging enough, the family moved to Alice Springs, Australia for two years.  Between baseball games, camping in the outback, sharing American traditions in the neighborhood, and making new friends, there was never a dull moment. She even had a motorcycle that she rode in the desert.

Returning to Virginia, Sheila remained a full-time mother with more than enough to do. After her divorce, she worked in a variety of positions, her favorites were those involving non-profits and event planning.

She loved her home and neighbors in Springfield, but ultimately moved to Ashburn to be closer to her daughters and their children.  She formed wonderful friendships through book clubs and the senior center.  Sheila was well-known for having strong opinions on social and political matters and never shied away from discussing these issues - either in person or online.

Her interests included reading, crafting, painting and quilting, among other things.  She enjoyed making special things for people, including quilts for each of her grandchildren and scarves for the homeless.  In more recent years, Sheila could be found appreciating live music and amazing views at some of her favorite wineries in the area.  While she had her favorites, she loved exploring Loudoun County to find new wineries and musicians.

Sheila always said that flowers are for the living so we know she'd appreciate donations to one of the many causes near to her heart, including Loudoun Abused Women's Shelter and MobileHope.