Thelma Mae (Beach) Shedd of Windsor, passed away on Oct. 16, 2022 at Albany Medical Center. Thelma was born on Feb. 16, 1942, the oldest of ten children of Mahlon and Carolyn Betty Beach of Parker Hollow, Masonville. There is not a person on this earth who was more determined to be self-sufficient than Thelma who spent most of her adult life as a paraplegic, the result of an earlier automobile accident. Anyone who knew her understood how courageous, brave, fearless and strong she was as she endured countless challenges surviving numerous hospitalizations and medical procedures through the years. With her loving husband Hank by her side, she made a gratifying life for herself. She loved her country home with numerous houseplants and enjoyed having a small vegetable garden in her yard. She loved cooking, baking and crocheting small things for everyone she knew. Thelma had excellent secretarial skills and worked for several different lawyers in the area as well as a short stint at Scintilla/Bendix in Sidney right after graduating from Sidney High School in 1960. But music was her greatest passion, especially country, and she spent many years with her band singing and playing at clubs and dances around the area. After becoming wheelchair-bound, she taught herself how to drive using hand controls and was always going somewhere in her van. She and Hank loved to go out to local restaurants and loved to go visit and spend time with their kids, grandkids and great-grandkids. She was especially proud of their children’s accomplishments in life and adored their grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She loved writing letters and sending people special birthday wishes and Christmas cards every year and kept in touch with many old friends and classmates from school. She loved arranging and attending birthday parties and family get-togethers. Her thoughtfulness and love will be sorely missed by all who knew her.
Thelma is survived by her second husband Henry Shedd; her son David Cordner; her daughter Michelle (Alan) Jensen; her brothers and sisters, Bobbie (Dave) Owens, Ed (Sheree) Beach, Russ Beach, Mahlon Jr. (Ellen) Beach, Dolly deVries, Ernie Beach, Marian (Stub) Ploutz, and Marty (Jennifer) Beach; her aunt Ruth Butts, grandchildren David Cordner, Jessie Cordner, Joshua Cordner, Derek Cordner, Zachary Cordner, Melissa Bryce, Kevin (Jessica) Stever, Ben (Beth) Stever, and Anthony Jensen; several great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews and cousins.
Thelma was predeceased by her parents Mahlon and Betty Beach, daughter Nancy Katen, sons Steven Cordner and Dennis Beach, brother Nelson Beach, sister-in-law Cheyrl Beach, brother-in-law John deVries, and most recently her aunt Grace Fisher.
Family and friends are invited to attend a Celebration of Life and Memorial for Thelma on Sunday, Oct. 30, 2022, at 3 p.m., at The Assembly of God Church, 1 Maple Lane, Deposit, with Pastor Kathy Myrick officiating. Burial will be in the McClure Cemetery at a later date.
