Cecilia "Sheila" Quintanilla

Cecilia “Sheila” Quintanilla, age 89, passed away peacefully on December 13, 2023, at Valley Vista Good Samaritan Society in Wamego.  

She was born November 22, 1934, in San Antonio, Texas, the daughter of Joseph and Maria (Flores) Chavez. She was the third of twelve children.

In April 1955, Sheila married Emilio Quintanilla in San Antonio, Texas. He preceded her in death on February 15, 2001. Together, they were blessed with eleven children. Sheila and her family lived in San Antonio, Texas, for several years. They later moved to Paxico, Kansas, to raise their family.

As a young girl, Sheila perfected her craft as a seamstress, mending clothing; while living with her aunt and uncle, she worked in the cotton fields of Brownsville, Texas, to help support her mother and siblings. Sheila was a certified medical assistant at the Alma Manor for over 20 years. She enjoyed caring for the elderly and was very proud of her profession.

 In her free time, she enjoyed playing fast-pitch softball from a young age until she was in her 50s; the sport led her to meet the love of her life, Emilio. She and Emilio enjoyed fishing together and took great pride in her family dinners on Sundays, often making her famous tamales and ox tail soup. Sheila was passionate about her heritage and her family. She loved watching Spanish soap operas with her granddaughters; even if they didn’t understand, having them by her side brought her great joy. She was a feisty woman and family-oriented. She fiercely protected her family and was proud to be a wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, great-great-grandmother, and aunt.

Survivors include her children, Cecilia Jean (Ken) Bramblett, son-in-law, Vincent Hurla, Emilio (Deb) Quintanilla, Robert (Diane) Quintanilla, Norma (Melvin) Burris, Barbara (Rodger) Bussart, Sonya (Todd) Whitwam, Bonnie Quintanilla, Keith Quintanilla, Ray (Carmen) Quintanilla, and Melissa Myers, thirty-seven grandchildren, seventy-two great-grandchildren, and three great-great-grandchildren, and one on the way.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Joseph and Maria Chavez, husband Emilio Quintanilla, daughter Emily Quintanilla Hurla, granddaughter Shana Bird and Elizabeth Kates, and three brothers and six sisters.

A Rosary Service will be held on Sunday, December 17, 2023, at 5:00 p.m. at Campanella & Stewart Funeral Home, with a visitation following the Rosary from 5:30 until 7:30. Cecilia will lie in state at 3:00 p.m. on Sunday, December 17, 2023. Funeral services and burial will be held privately. The family asks in place of flowers to donate to the Alzheimer’s Society. Those may be sent to the care of Campanella and Stewart Funeral Home. Online condolences may be made at www.campanellastewart.com