Sheila Goel

“Our hearts were nearly shattered. We wished more than anything that you could stay, but when we saw you sleeping so peacefully, free from pain, how could we wish you back with us to suffer again.” Jaya Goel

Sheila Goel, age 85, originally from Mathura, India, passed away peacefully surrounded by her family in the early hours of Wednesday, April 29th, 2026 at her home in Madison, WI. She was born in October 1940 on Sharad Purnima (the brightest full moon of the year), but her legal birthday was on January 16th, 1941 due to a not uncommon glitch in India when registering for primary school. Her parents, Giriraj Prasad and Shri Devi Mittal named her Sushila which she later shortened to Sheila when she moved to the US. She married Vipin C. Goel in December 1962 and had four children.

Sheila’s father was a strong advocate for women’s education, so she obtained her Bachelor of Arts degree from Meerut University in U.P., India in 1966 after she was already married with one daughter, Meena. Her degree was in Sanskrit, Hindi, English, and Political Science. Several years after the birth of her third child, Anju, Sheila convinced Vipin in 1971 to move to the US, understanding that her three daughters would have significantly more opportunities growing up there. They settled in Madison, WI because Vipin’s younger brother was there at the time. The first six to twelve months were very challenging. With time, she became more comfortable speaking English, learning to drive, and working several jobs for the first time in her life. Her determination paid off when she and Vipin bought their first house just five years later.

Sheila always wanted to be a doctor, but her father worked for the U.P. government in a transferable post in India so the family moved every few years which made it difficult for her to fulfill her dreams. She was thrilled when both Manju and Anju became physicians. She felt that education and community service were the foundation of life so she was very happy when Sharad went into teaching. He is a professor of Public Policy at Harvard Kennedy School. Since she only got a B.A. herself, she said that getting a baccalaureate degree was just the beginning. She was extremely pleased that between her four children they obtained an MBA, MPH, JD, PhD, and two MD’s. Her unwavering support allowed her children to succeed and continue to give back to the community. Sheila’s life revolved around caring for her children first and then later her grandchildren. She was very involved in raising both Divya and Jaya since they grew up in Madison. That was the main reason she was so energetic for most of her life, trying to keep up with the two of them. Over the past few years, both girls bonded even more with Nani as they helped in much of her care.

Sheila touched dozens of lives through her Family Daycare Center which she opened in 1978 after the birth of her fourth child, Sharad, named after her biological birthday. She wanted to spend time with her son as well as provide him with playmates. She made such an impact through her center that over the years, not only her prior students, but also their parents, continued to stop by her house. This was a true testament to how she formed life-long relationships. Sheila was an excellent cook and her gulab jamun and dahi bara were the talk of the town. Luckily, she taught many others her cooking secrets so her love for food carries on. It was natural for her to help others, whether she dropped of food for friends who were sick, provided a listening ear to people struggling, or hosted international UW students in her home. She loved gardening and always planted many flowers and vegetables each summer which she shared with others. She was very athletic as a child and remained active throughout life. Although she never learned to ride a bike or swim, she enjoyed hiking and playing golf. She also collected many dolls and spoons from all over the world.

Sheila’s real talent was spreading unconditional love. It was unusual for her to leave her home without bumping into someone who wanted to hug her, regardless of whether she was at the grocery store, doctor’s office, or out for a walk. She was a very spiritual person and actively involved in the Madison Sai group and the Hindu temple in Fitchburg. She had a huge impact on the Madison community and beyond.

Birthdays were very important to Sheila, for herself and others, so they were always celebrated in a big way. Her 65th birthday was a huge surprise party that most of Madison managed to pull off at the Monona Terrace in 2006 as part of CBS’s The Early Show “Week of Wishes.” She celebrated her 70th birthday in Las Vegas with family and friends because she loved playing the slot machines. For her 75th birthday, she was gifted a new car by her children. Her 78th birthday was spent with her family relaxing in Punta Cana under the sun. In 2021 during COVID, she made the local ABC news for her 80th birthday drive-by celebration. Her 84th birthday was especially important as the Madison Sai group celebrated it with her. We will cherish all of these wonderful memories.

Sheila was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease eight to ten years ago. Although this condition progressively limited her mobility, she continued to routinely invite friends into her home for chai. She loved to hear stories from her grandchildren and see pictures of their events, especially when she was unable to attend them. Sheila first entered hospice in the spring of 2023 and “graduated” one year later. This is almost an unheard concept, so her strength and courage showed us all how much she wanted to remain with her loved ones. We are so blessed to have had that extra time with her. In the end, we encouraged her to finally take care of herself, end the struggle, and join God. To know her was to love her.

She is survived by her husband, Vipin; four children, Meena, Manju, Anju, and Sharad (Kelly); four grandchildren, Kiran, Divya, Jaya, and Maya; her younger sister, Pushpa, and younger brother, Kaushal; and many nieces and nephews across generations.

A private cremation ceremony will be held on May 3rd, 2026. A Celebration of Life for all will be held on May 24th, 2026 in the afternoon. Please contact Sharad at 607-339-9903 for details if interested in attending.

In lieu of flowers, we request that you donate to the Parkinson’s Foundation in her honor:

Sheila Goel Parkinson's Foundation

Om Shanti, Shanti, Shanti.