Sheelagh Margaret Anne (Cassidy) Panizzi, beloved mother, grandmother, nurse, and friend, passed away peacefully on June 6, 2026. Born on June 14, 1945, in Belfast, Ireland, she was the daughter of Ethel (McDonald) and Joseph Abram Cassidy.

Even as a small child, it was evident that caring for others would become her life’s calling. Her passion for caring for people deepened through her work with St. John Ambulance Brigade and her involvement at St. Silas’ Church in Belfast. She later trained at Rupert Stanley College before entering Musgrave Park Hospital, where she qualified as a State Registered Nurse in 1965. She spent several years working at The Royal Maternity Hospital, both in Ireland and Scotland.

In the late 1960s, Sheelagh’s adventurous spirit led her to Nairobi, Kenya, where she worked at Gertrude’s Garden Children’s Hospital. There she embraced a new culture, formed lifelong friendships, married Giovanni Panizzi and later welcomed her sons, Sean and Guy. In the late 1970s the Panizzi family relocated to South Georgia, where Sheelagh would build a beautiful and enduring life. She found deep spiritual belonging at Christ Episcopal Church in Valdosta and treasured the friendships and faith community she found there. Returning to her nursing profession, Sheelagh served faithfully for 24 years at South Georgia Medical Center, where she later retired in 2008. Though reserved by nature, she touched countless lives through her gentle compassion, reliability, and ability to bring comfort in moments of need. Retirement opened the door to two of Sheelagh’s great joys: world travel and time spent with loved ones. She was an impressive hostess and loved gathering family and friends around her table. Above all else, Sheelagh’s greatest joy was her family and nothing filled her heart more than becoming “LaLa” to her beloved grandchildren, each of whom brought her endless pride and joy. Sheelagh is preceded in death by her parents and brother, George Cassidy, Bishop of Southwell and Nottingham. She is survived by her sons and daughters in law, Sean Panizzi (Ansley) of Lake Park, Ga, and Guy Panizzi (Amy) of Lake Park, Ga; her cherished grandchildren; Kate, Gabe, Ellie, Sophia and Amelia; sister-in-law Jane Cassidy of England and nieces Gael Birtill of England and Sarah Payot of France and many loving family members across the world.

Funeral services will be held at Christ Episcopal Church in Valdosta, and the date and time will be announced when available.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to Langdale Place or Hospice of South Georgia.