This is a tribute to my sister, Sharlene. She was so happy! Her husband, John, was her best friend and they had such fun together going for walks, shopping, playing card games, being with other friends.
After batteling cancer in 2004 which damaged her heart, then a pacemaker, abilation, new pacemaker with third wire, then a stroke about a month ago, followed by a heart attack a few weeks later....she passed on to the other side and into the arms of our Savior.
She will be greatly missed; alway a smile and positive attitude no matter what was going on in her life. Our daughter, Marylyn says it well in a poem she wrote about her aunt Sharlene: Contagious Smile
Her smile was contagious,
A grin from ear to ear.
She gave them away freely,
To any who were near.
It conveyed many things,
Love, joy, and affection.
Laughter was born,
In one facial expression.
To be blessed with such a gift,
She spread joy and happiness.
Healing pain and sadness,
By that smile, so infectious.
An extension of her self,
A ray of light to touch the soul.
To enrich the life and lift the heart,
Is there any loftier goal?
And now that she’s gone,
I will wear my smile more often.
In tribute to my sweet Aunt,
She will never be forgotten.
Sharlene was always concerned for others. Even though they had little $, you would sometimes find Sharlene and John at the park giving homeless people food. She and John had friends from church and also caregivers who would stop by on a daily basis to help with shopping, medicine, laundry, housecleaning, gardening. And they all said the same thing, "it was hard to tell what was going on with Sharlene as she was always so happy and positive". When asked how she was she would say "fine".
This is a picture of my mother on the left, expecting Sharlene in just one month. Next to our mother is Aunt Claudine and Uncle Bill, Dad Candlish, Aunt Mary, me, and Mom Candlish.
Here is my mother's parents so excited about their newest little grand-daughter, Sharlene.
Our Nanny [we called our mother's mother] always saw that we had our picture taken together on a regular basis.
This is about the time our mother contacted MS and passed away when Sharlene was just a toddler. We had been to Mexico and had matching dresses. One of my favorite pictures!
Here are some pictures of Sharlene as she was growing up:
Sharlene passed away April 19 and we had a memorial service for her on Saturday, April 24. Before the memorial service we had a family viewing at the mortuary. That is her husband, John in the very front next to cousin David and Bill. Other cousins on the Candlish side were Gail, Frank, Gary and also Aunt Claudine.
The lady at Sharlene & John's church made these beautiful flower arrangements. Sharlene's favoite thing was 'purse shopping' and her favorite color was 'purple' and so we added her purple purse in the casket. Another little girl who was friends with Sharlene had given her a purse when she heard she was in the hospital, which we also added.
This picture was taken today at the cemetary where Lisa & Dan, John & Marrianne, and their children met with us to dedicate Sharlene's grave. It is located in Westlake, near our home where Marvin's parents are also buried.
God looked around his garden
And he found an empty place.
He then looked down upon this earth,
And saw your tired face.
He put his arms around you
And lifted you to rest.
God’s garden must be beautiful,
He always takes the best.
He knew that you were suffering,
He knew you were in pain.
He knew that you would never
Get well on earth again.
He saw the road was getting rough
And the hills were hard to climb.
So he closed your weary eyelids,
And whispered, “Peace be thine.”
It broke our hearts to lose you,
But you did not go alone.
For part of us went with you
The day God called you home.
IN LOVING MEMORY OF
SHARLENE ELAINE STRAIN
BORN
January 31, 1953
Whittier, Los Angeles, California
PASSED AWAY
April 19, 2010
Upland, San Bernardino, California
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