Sharon Joanne WASWICK

Sharon sure did know how to pick a date to leave us! We will celebrate her life and legacy like she would expect, with fireworks annually. Sharon was a wife, a mom, a grandmother, a friend, an aunt, a co-worker, a secretary, a travel partner, a volunteer and some even say a Saint. To those of us she is leaving behind she was the light of our life and will be missed.

Sharon is leaving behind her loving husband Russ, her son Rob Waswick (Leah Sandkuhl), her daughter Sandy Waswick (Chris Craig) and her amazing granddaughters Zoey and Avery Waswick. Sharon was the oldest of seven followed by the late Russell (Sally) Orosz, Zenna (late Don) LaMontagne, Darlene (Keith) Johnson, Ida (Bruce) Campbell, Darrell (Judy) Orosz and Dale (Joanne) Orosz. She was predeceased by her parents Joe and Ida Orosz. Sharon has many nieces and nephews that loved her with all their heart. You did not have to be related to call Sharon “Auntie,” you just had to love her and so many of us did.

Always a giver, first in her life to her family as the eldest of seven. Her youngest brother came along 17 years after Sharon, and he would be the first of many that she always had a treat in her purse for. Dale is still teased by the family for his expression “sniff sniff, I smell candy in that purse.”  Later in life that purse became a grandma gift bag that she carried with her during her travels, full of puzzles, toys, and treats. I heard Sandy took the last of the candy stash from that treat bag and left it out for visitors over the past few weeks.

Sharon spent her life giving back. She spent 25+ years in Scouting, first as a leader, then as a trainer and she gave warm fuzzies to the homesick kids who just needed a pep talk when they were far from home. As the secretary of Ridgemont School she spent countless hours painting holiday windows, organizing coloring contests, and rescuing teachers. She made sure that every child got a card if they went to Ridgemeont School when they graduated from Fernie Secondary. That was probably what started the card making legacy. Sharon sent 1000’s of cards to people over the years. She has a workshop card making studio in the basement and no matter the occasion or celebration there was a card for that.

A long time ago the movie “The Bucket List” inspired Sharon to create her list of things to do before she passed. There were some crazy things on that list from seeing the Rose Bowl Parade in person to watching the Ball Drop-in Time Square (Vegas must have been on that list several times). We are happy to report that everything that could be done, was done.

We could go on for days about the way Sharon touched the lives of so many. Sharon was always a giver, she was the person that started many a pay it forward in Timmie’s drive thru, so if you want to pay tribute to Sharon in a small way, please pay for the vehicle behind you in the drive thru.

We are all saddened that she was taken away too soon. Every year she attended the Butterfly Release Event in Kelowna for Hospice and released a butterfly for those she lost in the previous year. At this year’s event we are releasing a butterfly in her name. She was able to take an Angel Flight during her treatments in Kelowna and for that reason that is the charity we have chosen to give back to.

To plant a beautiful memorial tree in memory of Sharon Joanne WASWICK, please visit our Tree Store.