Shiela Teresa M Thompson - Durieux

Sheila Teresa M. Thompson-Durieux, 78, of Hazleton, PA, died Saturday, June 17, 2023, at
Lehigh Valley Hospital, Allentown, PA.
Born in Hazleton, she was the daughter of Josephine (Unis) Thompson and James Thompson. 
Sheila is predeceased by her husband of 40 years, Jean-Baptiste Durieux, and her sister Martha
Ann Kvortek and brother-in-law Albert Kvortek; brothers, James Jr. and Brian Thompson,
nephew Eric Kvortek, sister-in-law Marie-Therese Durieux, and brother-in-law Andre Durieux.
Sheila graduated from St. Gabriel High School, Hazleton, and the Hazleton State Hospital School
of Nursing.  As a registered nurse she worked at Muhlenberg Hospital, Plainfield, NJ, Morris
Memorial Hospital, Morristown, NJ, and St. Luke’s Hospital, Bethlehem, PA.  In 1973 she
volunteered with the Catholic Medical Mission Board in Liberia as a clinician where she met
Jean-Baptiste Durieux, the love of her life.  They celebrated their 40 th wedding anniversary in
2017.  During their life together Sheila and Jean-Baptiste enjoyed camping trips in our national
parks, cooking French cuisine, growing their own vegetables, hosting family gatherings, and
visiting relatives in France where they traveled widely.  Sheila was devoted to her family,
generously giving of her time and energy whenever needed, always with a cheerful and loving
disposition.  She met the many challenges of her life with resilience and strength, providing
inspiration and an example to all who knew and loved her.  She was a deeply spiritual soul with
an abiding devotion to her faith from which she drew daily grace and solace.
Sheila was a member of Annunciation Parish at St. Gabriel Church and was an active friend of
Christ Lutheran Church.
Surviving are her sister Cornelia and brothers David (Arlington, VA), Mark (Hazleton), sisters-in-
law Jeanette Durieux, Sr. Marie-Madeleine Durieux (France), and nieces and nephews Rosanne
and Andrew Kvortek (East Brunswick, NJ) and Bruno, Pierre, Henri, Chantal, Florence Durieux
(France), and several great nieces and nephews, including Amanda, George, and Samantha
Cooper (NJ).
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Friday at 10 AM at Annunciation Parish, Church of
S. Gabriel 122 S. Wyoming St. Hazleton.  Family and friends may call Thursday evening from 5
PM to 8 PM at the Joseph B. Conahan Funeral Home, Inc.  532 N. Vine St. Hazleton.
Donations in Sheila’s memory may be made to Restore This House c/o Annunciation Parish 122
S. Wyoming St. Hazleton

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