Sheila Rae Gass Ciabocchi

Sheila Rae Gass Ciabocchi, 73, of Little Rock, a long-serving coronary care nurse at CHI St. Vincent Infirmary, passed away Dec 24, 2024. Sheila was born in Springfield, Mo., on Feb. 20, 1951 to Ellis and Ruth Gass of Mountain Grove, Mo.

She graduated from Mountain Grove, Mo., High School in 1969. Sheila played the French horn in the band. She also was a choir member, cheerleader and baton twirler. Sheila loved horseback riding and the outdoors. She also was a landscape and still life artist and could play the piano.

Sheila attended the University of Central Arkansas for three years, where she studied liberal arts. She was a member of the Delta Zeta Sorority. Sheila graduated Nursing School from University of Arkansas at Little Rock in 1988.

Sheila began her career in 1987 at St. Vincent Infirmary’s Coronary Care Unit. She later joined the Cardiovascular Intensive Care Unit as a Critical Care Nurse. Sheila was serving as Charge Nurse when she retired in 2018 after 31 years of service.

Sheila was a loyal, loving friend and colleague to many. Her healthcare career was devoted to serving critically ill patients with devotion, compassion, expertise and understanding. Sheila was a mentor and a positive influence to many young nurses. Her smile, humor and playful teasing, combined with her beauty and intellect, made her the “original Diva of CVICU.” Fellow nurses, doctors, surgeons, therapists, imaging and tech support staff, transport, food and custodial services were all friends with Sheila.

In retirement, Sheila married Michael Ciabocchi on her birthday, Feb.20 2019. She loved listening and singing to Country Music, watching movies, bingeing on a streaming TV series or watching The Andy Griffith Show and Gunsmoke reruns.

Her favorite meal became a double cheeseburger from Leo’s. Sheila was an emphatic supporter of The New York Yankees and the Arkansas Razorbacks. She enjoyed long walks at the Big Dam Bridge and War Memorial Golf Course. Sheila treasured her Cavalier King Charles spaniels, Gaelen, Piper and Zoë.

Over the past two years Sheila battled Alzheimer’s disease with courage and dignity. Sheila was a member of The Cathedral of St. Andrew in Little Rock. She became a Roman Catholic in 2016. 

She was preceded in death by her parents, Ellis and Ruth Gass and her first husband, Dr Mark Gardner, who died in 1981.

Sheila is survived by her husband, Michael Ciabocchi, stepchildren Tim Ciabocchi of Little Rock, Lisa Boleware (Zach) of Fayetteville, and Lauren Calcagni (Chase) of Mobile, Ala. She is also survived by her sister Sheryl Dosset (Brynel) of McPherson, Kan., nephew Mckiefer Dosset (Staci) of Kansas, niece Serci Dosset (Brent) of Lawrence, Kan., and great-nieces and nephews Madalena, Gabriela and Rodrigo Gonzalez of Kansas and Ryker and Amara Dosset of Kansas.

She is also survived by her aunt and uncle, Laverne Walker and Jerry Burgin of Washington state and by numerous cousins from Mountain Grove Mo., Kansas, Virginia and Washington state.

A Funeral Mass will be held at 2:30 p.m., Friday, Jan. 17, in the Cathedral of St Andrew, 617 South Louisiana Street, Little Rock. Mass will be celebrated by Father Joseph de Orbegozo. Refreshments and food will be served after the Mass.

In lieu of flowers, Sheila and her family would appreciate contributions to The Cathedral of St Andrew.

Arrangements by Arkansas Cremation, 10515 W Markham St, Suite B1, Little Rock, Arkansas 72205. If you would like to leave a message of condolence to the family, you may do so using the Guestbook section.

www.arkansascremation.com