MARCH 9 • 2023 | 61

and Suzi Weiner of Oak Park; daughter 
and son-in-law, Ellen and Sanford 
Greenberg of Oak Park; grandchildren, 
Stefani and Dr. Shalom Ruben, Michele 
and David Plafchan, Hilary and Dr. 
Phillip Wolf, Jason and Iris Greenberg, 
Kimberly and Matthew Maheu; great-
grandchildren, Orli, Tali, Noa, Julian, 
Camille, Yeshaya; she is also survived 
by many other loving family and 
special caregivers, Sheryl, Tiffany and 
Jamies. 
Mrs. Wiener was the beloved wife of 
the late Max Wiener; dear mother-in-
law of the late Barbara Weiner.
Contributions may be made to the 
Zekelman Holocaust Center, 28123 
Orchard Lake Road, Farmington 
Hills, MI 48334; Jewish Hospice & 
Chaplaincy Network, 6555 W. Maple 
Road, West Bloomfield, MI 48322; or 
the Peggy and Harry Miller Family 
Fund at Temple Israel, 5725 Walnut 
Lake Road, West Bloomfield, MI 
48323. Funeral service was held at 
Hebrew Memorial Chapel. Interment 
took place at Hebrew Memorial Park. 
Arrangements by Hebrew Memorial 
Chapel.

Correction
In the obituary for Herman Kasoff in 
the Feb. 23, 2023, issue, Florence Kasoff 
should have been listed as a sister-in-
law, and it should have been noted 
that Mr. Kasoff was predeceased by his 
daughter, Peggy Kasoff.

S

HEILA SKY KASSELMAN, 
82, of West Bloomfield, 
passed peacefully on Feb. 25, 
2023, from complications of pancreatic 
cancer after a valiant 16-year battle. 
She was celebrated by all those 
who knew her for her 
inspirational and tireless 
campaign to bring urgency 
to the fight against 
pancreatic cancer. She was 
a bona fide warrior, role 
model, mentor and all-around force, 
self-made in every way.
After her pancreatic cancer surgery 
in 2008, Sheila channeled her energy 
into the Sky Foundation, a nonprofit 
organization actively raising public 
awareness and supporting pancreatic 
cancer patients, their family, friends 
and caregivers. So far $2.5+ million 
has been raised, most of which has 
been awarded to experts for vetted 
cutting-edge research. 
Due in large part to Sheila’s 
advocacy, Sky Foundation funds seed 
grants at important institutions such as 
Henry Ford Health, Karmanos Cancer 
Institute, the University of Michigan 
and Harvard. Sky Foundation works 
closely with the national organization 
PanCan and other organizations to 
enhance awareness. 
Sheila’s story has been covered in 
numerous publications and media 
as her extended survival and long-
standing service was truly unique. She 
has received numerous awards and 
distinctions and was featured in the 
film Those on the Front Lines of Cancer 
by Keith Famie, premiering on PBS in 
October 2019. 
 Sheila was an adoring mother 
who had a notable career defined by 
her positive attitude and a desire to 
help her community. She previously 
volunteered with Common Ground, 
ultimately co-founding the fundraiser 
Art in the Park in Birmingham, 
Michigan. She once co-owned an 

art gallery in Birmingham and 
Charlevoix. 
 Her professional accomplishments 
included building an insurance and 
financial planning business. She 
advocated for women in business, 
co-founded the Birmingham 
Community Women’s Center and 
helped numerous local women’s 
organizations. She was especially 
proud of her work focused on 
assisting women to establish financial 
independence. She was a past board 
member of the National Association 
of Women’s Business Owners and a 
member of the Women’s Economic 
Club.
A beloved daughter, sister, aunt, 
mother and grandmother, she grew 
up in Johnstown, Pennsylvania. Her 
parents were Herman and Gertrude 
Sky. Her beloved stepmom was Naomi 
Holzman Sky. Sheila graduated from 
Penn State in 1962 and married Lewis 
Kasselman. 
She is survived by her three loving 
children, Heidi K. Sky, Geoffrey 
(Ellen) Kasselman and Brad (Tomoko) 
Kasselman; as well as her four 
grandchildren, Mitchell and Samantha 
Kasselman, and Jillian and Sophie 
Kaplan; and her sister, Saralee Sky 
(Jerry Kilgore). 
 A celebration of Sheila’s life and 
legacy is being planned for later 
in the year. Please check www.
skyfoundationinc.org or IraKaufman.
com for information. 
 In pursuit of Sheila’s pancreatic 
cancer awareness mission, Sky 
Foundation’s important work 
will continue. Contributions in 
Sheila’s memory can be made 
to Sky Foundation Inc. at www.
skyfoundationinc.org, or send a 
check to “Sky Foundation Inc.” at 33 
Bloomfield Hills Parkway, Suite 275, 
Bloomfield Hills, MI 48309; or by 
calling (248) 385-5143. Arrangements 
by Ira Kaufman Chapel. 

Pancreatic 
Cancer Crusader

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