Sharon Angela Austin, 55, residing in Niles, MI, passed away peacefully at 6:40 pm on Tuesday, January 3, 2017 in her residence surrounded by adoring family after a courageous two-year battle with cancer. She was born June 22, 1961, in Sandusky, OH to Frances H. and Janis E. (Cook) McKenna.
On February 15, 1993 on a cruise ship in Dade County, FL, Sharon married her true soulmate Charles A. Austin, who survives. In addition to her loving husband of 24 years, she is survived by four sons, Aaron P. Steffenhagen of Sandusky, Russell (Lynette) Austin of Lodi, OH, Nathan (Miranda) Austin of Elkhart; Phillip (Cristen) Austin of South Bend; five grandchildren, Nicole, Brianna, Jacob, Grace and Elijah. Sharon is also survived by four unique sisters, Elizabeth McKenna of Parma, OH, Molly (Doug) Windisch of Sandusky, OH, Julie (Peter) Stokes of Catawba Island, OH, and Jennifer Rowles (James deceased ‘15) of Green Springs, OH; as well as two athletic brothers, Timothy (Sherry) McKenna of Sandusky, OH and John (Susan) McKenna of Frisco, TX. She is also survived by over thirty cousins, plus numerous nieces and nephews.
Sharon adored growing up in a large family with the nickname ‘Birdie’ and spent summers enjoying Lake Erie and Cedar Point. She considered it a privilege to receive a Catholic education and graduated in 1979 from St. Mary’s Central Catholic High School. She attended BGSU Firelands where she studied Business Administration. Her education, and gorgeous smile, was applied to careers in banking, dental assisting, and real estate management, but she especially cherished her role as a true homemaker.
Her many passions included a love for fashion, stylish shopping, interior decorating of numerous homes filled with music, white fluffy cats, nature and gardening, and traveling to warm places with fruity drinks and dancing. On a daily basis, she enjoyed anything chocolate and a little bit of coffee with fresh cream. She delighted her grandchildren with trips to Disney and a special Hello Kitty room filled with stuffed animals. Pink was her signature color. Sharon will be remembered for her very generous ways, especially providing shoes and clothing for the children of hundreds of tenants over the years. Her helping hand was always there for those less fortunate. Sharon embraced the simplicity of home and family. Many friends and family were treated to her talent for baking fabulous cupcakes and cookies. Her business plan for a pink cupcake shop, with her friend Mattie, was put on pause due to cancer. The foundation of her life was faith with a love for scripture passages, reading devotions, and being a prayer warrior; many considered her simply a woman of faith. Sharon adored spending quality time with family and embraced valuable friendships. Most of all, she loved her marriage to Chuck, and their amazing relationship was so admired. Her graceful and loving ways will surely be missed.
Funeral services for Sharon will be held at 1:00pm on Monday, January 9, 2017 at First Church of Christ Christian where she attended services, 2240 Yankee Street, Niles, MI 49120. Rev. David Coleman will officiate. Burial at St. Joseph Valley Memorial Park will be held in the spring, her favorite time of year. There will be a viewing on Sunday, January 8, 2017 at Palmer Funeral Homes—Hickey Chapel, 17131 Cleveland Road, South Bend, IN 46635, from 2:00-6:00pm.
On February 15, 1993 on a cruise ship in Dade County, FL, Sharon married her true soulmate Charles A. Austin, who survives. In addition to her loving husband of 24 years, she is survived by four sons, Aaron P. Steffenhagen of Sandusky, Russell (Lynette) Austin of Lodi, OH, Nathan (Miranda) Austin of Elkhart; Phillip (Cristen) Austin of South Bend; five grandchildren, Nicole, Brianna, Jacob, Grace and Elijah. Sharon is also survived by four unique sisters, Elizabeth McKenna of Parma, OH, Molly (Doug) Windisch of Sandusky, OH, Julie (Peter) Stokes of Catawba Island, OH, and Jennifer Rowles (James deceased ‘15) of Green Springs, OH; as well as two athletic brothers, Timothy (Sherry) McKenna of Sandusky, OH and John (Susan) McKenna of Frisco, TX. She is also survived by over thirty cousins, plus numerous nieces and nephews.
Sharon adored growing up in a large family with the nickname ‘Birdie’ and spent summers enjoying Lake Erie and Cedar Point. She considered it a privilege to receive a Catholic education and graduated in 1979 from St. Mary’s Central Catholic High School. She attended BGSU Firelands where she studied Business Administration. Her education, and gorgeous smile, was applied to careers in banking, dental assisting, and real estate management, but she especially cherished her role as a true homemaker.
Her many passions included a love for fashion, stylish shopping, interior decorating of numerous homes filled with music, white fluffy cats, nature and gardening, and traveling to warm places with fruity drinks and dancing. On a daily basis, she enjoyed anything chocolate and a little bit of coffee with fresh cream. She delighted her grandchildren with trips to Disney and a special Hello Kitty room filled with stuffed animals. Pink was her signature color. Sharon will be remembered for her very generous ways, especially providing shoes and clothing for the children of hundreds of tenants over the years. Her helping hand was always there for those less fortunate. Sharon embraced the simplicity of home and family. Many friends and family were treated to her talent for baking fabulous cupcakes and cookies. Her business plan for a pink cupcake shop, with her friend Mattie, was put on pause due to cancer. The foundation of her life was faith with a love for scripture passages, reading devotions, and being a prayer warrior; many considered her simply a woman of faith. Sharon adored spending quality time with family and embraced valuable friendships. Most of all, she loved her marriage to Chuck, and their amazing relationship was so admired. Her graceful and loving ways will surely be missed.
Funeral services for Sharon will be held at 1:00pm on Monday, January 9, 2017 at First Church of Christ Christian where she attended services, 2240 Yankee Street, Niles, MI 49120. Rev. David Coleman will officiate. Burial at St. Joseph Valley Memorial Park will be held in the spring, her favorite time of year. There will be a viewing on Sunday, January 8, 2017 at Palmer Funeral Homes—Hickey Chapel, 17131 Cleveland Road, South Bend, IN 46635, from 2:00-6:00pm.
Sharon Angela Austin, 55, residing in Niles, MI, passed away peacefully at 6:40 pm on Tuesday, January 3, 2017 in her residence surrounded by adoring family after a courageous two-year battle with cancer. She was born June 22, 1961, in Sandusky, OH to Frances H. and Janis E. (Cook) McKenna.
On February 15, 1993 on a cruise ship in Dade County, FL, Sharon married her true soulmate Charles A. Austin, who survives. In addition to her loving husband of 24 years, she is survived by four sons, Aaron P. Steffenhagen of Sandusky, Russell (Lynette) Austin of Lodi, OH, Nathan (Miranda) Austin of Elkhart; Phillip (Cristen) Austin of South Bend; five grandchildren, Nicole, Brianna, Jacob, Grace and Elijah. Sharon is also survived by four unique sisters, Elizabeth McKenna of Parma, OH, Molly (Doug) Windisch of Sandusky, OH, Julie (Peter) Stokes of Catawba Island, OH, and Jennifer Rowles (James deceased ‘15) of Green Springs, OH; as well as two athletic brothers, Timothy (Sherry) McKenna of Sandusky, OH and John (Susan) McKenna of Frisco, TX. She is also survived by over thirty cousins, plus numerous nieces and nephews.
Sharon adored growing up in a large family with the nickname ‘Birdie’ and spent summers enjoying Lake Erie and Cedar Point. She considered it a privilege to receive a Catholic education and graduated in 1979 from St. Mary’s Central Catholic High School. She attended BGSU Firelands where she studied Business Administration. Her education, and gorgeous smile, was applied to careers in banking, dental assisting, and real estate management, but she especially cherished her role as a true homemaker.
Her many passions included a love for fashion, stylish shopping, interior decorating of numerous homes filled with music, white fluffy cats, nature and gardening, and traveling to warm places with fruity drinks and dancing. On a daily basis, she enjoyed anything chocolate and a little bit of coffee with fresh cream. She delighted her grandchildren with trips to Disney and a special Hello Kitty room filled with stuffed animals. Pink was her signature color. Sharon will be remembered for her very generous ways, especially providing shoes and clothing for the children of hundreds of tenants over the years. Her helping hand was always there for those less fortunate. Sharon embraced the simplicity of home and family. Many friends and family were treated to her talent for baking fabulous cupcakes and cookies. Her business plan for a pink cupcake shop, with her friend Mattie, was put on pause due to cancer. The foundation of her life was faith with a love for scripture passages, reading devotions, and being a prayer warrior; many considered her simply a woman of faith. Sharon adored spending quality time with family and embraced valuable friendships. Most of all, she loved her marriage to Chuck, and their amazing relationship was so admired. Her graceful and loving ways will surely be missed.
Funeral services for Sharon will be held at 1:00pm on Monday, January 9, 2017 at First Church of Christ Christian where she attended services, 2240 Yankee Street, Niles, MI 49120. Rev. David Coleman will officiate. Burial at St. Joseph Valley Memorial Park will be held in the spring, her favorite time of year. There will be a viewing on Sunday, January 8, 2017 at Palmer Funeral Homes—Hickey Chapel, 17131 Cleveland Road, South Bend, IN 46635, from 2:00-6:00pm.
On February 15, 1993 on a cruise ship in Dade County, FL, Sharon married her true soulmate Charles A. Austin, who survives. In addition to her loving husband of 24 years, she is survived by four sons, Aaron P. Steffenhagen of Sandusky, Russell (Lynette) Austin of Lodi, OH, Nathan (Miranda) Austin of Elkhart; Phillip (Cristen) Austin of South Bend; five grandchildren, Nicole, Brianna, Jacob, Grace and Elijah. Sharon is also survived by four unique sisters, Elizabeth McKenna of Parma, OH, Molly (Doug) Windisch of Sandusky, OH, Julie (Peter) Stokes of Catawba Island, OH, and Jennifer Rowles (James deceased ‘15) of Green Springs, OH; as well as two athletic brothers, Timothy (Sherry) McKenna of Sandusky, OH and John (Susan) McKenna of Frisco, TX. She is also survived by over thirty cousins, plus numerous nieces and nephews.
Sharon adored growing up in a large family with the nickname ‘Birdie’ and spent summers enjoying Lake Erie and Cedar Point. She considered it a privilege to receive a Catholic education and graduated in 1979 from St. Mary’s Central Catholic High School. She attended BGSU Firelands where she studied Business Administration. Her education, and gorgeous smile, was applied to careers in banking, dental assisting, and real estate management, but she especially cherished her role as a true homemaker.
Her many passions included a love for fashion, stylish shopping, interior decorating of numerous homes filled with music, white fluffy cats, nature and gardening, and traveling to warm places with fruity drinks and dancing. On a daily basis, she enjoyed anything chocolate and a little bit of coffee with fresh cream. She delighted her grandchildren with trips to Disney and a special Hello Kitty room filled with stuffed animals. Pink was her signature color. Sharon will be remembered for her very generous ways, especially providing shoes and clothing for the children of hundreds of tenants over the years. Her helping hand was always there for those less fortunate. Sharon embraced the simplicity of home and family. Many friends and family were treated to her talent for baking fabulous cupcakes and cookies. Her business plan for a pink cupcake shop, with her friend Mattie, was put on pause due to cancer. The foundation of her life was faith with a love for scripture passages, reading devotions, and being a prayer warrior; many considered her simply a woman of faith. Sharon adored spending quality time with family and embraced valuable friendships. Most of all, she loved her marriage to Chuck, and their amazing relationship was so admired. Her graceful and loving ways will surely be missed.
Funeral services for Sharon will be held at 1:00pm on Monday, January 9, 2017 at First Church of Christ Christian where she attended services, 2240 Yankee Street, Niles, MI 49120. Rev. David Coleman will officiate. Burial at St. Joseph Valley Memorial Park will be held in the spring, her favorite time of year. There will be a viewing on Sunday, January 8, 2017 at Palmer Funeral Homes—Hickey Chapel, 17131 Cleveland Road, South Bend, IN 46635, from 2:00-6:00pm.
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