Beloved actress Sheila Kennelly dies age 88

Actress Sheila Kennelly, who is best known for her time on Home and Away, has died at age 88. 

The beloved British-born soap star’s death was confirmed by Andrew Mercado in a post on social media, who reported that she died on her farm in the Hunter Valley. 

“Very sad news to report - darling Sheila Kennelly has died the way she always wanted, ‘falling off the twig’, as she would say, on her beloved farm in the Hunter Valley,” the film and TV historian said in a social media post. 

“She was surrounded by her dogs and dear family who looked after her so lovingly in her final days.

“Sheila starred as several iconic characters in some of Aussie TV’s biggest shows, including wig-wearing barmaid Norma Whittaker in Number 96 who called everyone ‘ducky’, jolly Italian mother-in-law Rosa in Kingwood Country, and the carnival worker in the caravan Floss from the original cast of Home & Away. 

“Sheila remained lifelong friends with many of the actors from Number 96, and was the last one standing of a special friend group that included Carol Raye, Elaine Lee and Elizabeth Kirkby.

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“I have no doubt they are all now having a lovely reunion with each other ... RIP Sheila.” 

Kennelly rose to fame playing retired pensioner and former carnival worker Floss McPhee in Home and Away, starring in 188 episodes as part of the original cast. 

She was born in England in 1936, and immigrated to Australia with her family as a child.

Kennelly took up acting in her teens and landed one of her first roles as a 17-year-old.

While her most notable role is Home and Away, she also starred in Number 96, Kingswood Country and made guest appearances in A Country Practice and All Saints.

Kennelly’s last on-screen appearance was in 2008, when she briefly reprised her iconic role as McPhee on Home and Away.

After that, Kennelly made the decision to step away from the spotlight to enjoy a quiet retirement on her farm in NSW.