Sharon L. Boylan

It is with deep sorrow but also an immense sense of gratitude that we honor the life of Sharon Lavonne Boylan, who passed away on Saturday, December 2, 2023, after a lengthy battle with Parkinson’s disease. Sharon’s journey began on November 17, 1938, in the tiny town of Benezette, Pennsylvania. Her parents, survivors of the Great Depression, instilled in her the strength, resilience, and unwavering love that would become hallmarks of her remarkable life. The valedictorian of her class at Kersey High School, Sharon was a voracious reader (to the extent that she had a “daytime book” and a “bedtime book” in progress at all times) and had a passion for discovery, learning, and travel that was utterly contagious. A fierce competitor, she was virtually unbeatable at Wheel of Fortune (it wasn’t unusual for her to solve a puzzle with only one letter showing), definitely unbeatable at bowling, and was never one to let anyone win – even her grandchildren! She was the first one to jump on the back of a snowmobile after a storm and she never turned down an invitation to a new adventure, be it salmon fishing in Canada, exploring the castles in Scotland, or browsing the Christmas markets in Germany. Her excellent cooking and many special recipes (especially her goulash, chicken noodle soup, chocolate pecan pie, chicken cacciatore, and sauerbraten) were star players at many family gatherings and will never taste quite the same way without her. The spirit of Sharon’s small-town roots never left her, however. Her dedication and work ethic made her a star in her professional career as an office manager for several large construction companies where she was beloved by employees at every level. In this male-dominated field she excelled, shattering the outdated notion that women should be satisfied with the roles of wife, mother, and homemaker. This same determination to defy expectations was never more evident than during her battle with pancreatic cancer in the late 1990s. A testament to her incredible strength, both physical and spiritual, Sharon was a pancreatic cancer survivor for an astonishing 31 years. Refusing to surrender to a disease that takes so many so quickly, Sharon fought with grace and courage, so much so that medical students and residents were honored to meet her, her case having become a literal textbook example of successful treatment. We are forever humbled by and grateful for the knowledge, expertise, unwavering care, and loving support her team at the Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore gave her throughout her journey. Not surprisingly, Sharon’s faith played a significant role in her life. A devoted member of St. Peter’s Catholic Church in Elizabethtown, that faith was evident in her everyday actions and the way she treated everyone with compassion and understanding. She was a model of grace, good manners, and selflessness, all-too-rare qualities that were repaid in kind by rich experiences, meaningful relationships, and the enduring love of more people than one could count. Sharon’s legacy of resilience, warmth, and an unshakeable belief in the goodness of people will be lovingly carried forward by her children, Scott Patrick Boylan, of Washington, DC, and her daughter, Melanie “Cricket” (Boylan) Zobian, and her cherished and endlessly spoiled grandchildren, Catherine Anastasia (“Catie”) Boylan, and Edward Patrick (“Teddy”) and Charles Scott (“Charlie”) Zobian. Like everything else in her life, Sharon excelled at being a grandmother, and these three were the light of her life, and her influence is already evident in their kindness, perseverance, scholarship, sly humor, and joy. In addition to her children and grandchildren, Sharon is also survived by her daughter-in-law Kim Boylan, her son-in-law (and favorite Wheel competitor!) Edward John (“Ted”) Zobian, and her sisters Diane Groeger and Shirley Bennet, both of St. Mary’s, Pennsylvania. She will also be loved, missed, and remembered by “The Gang,” the lifelong friends she and her husband, Patrick (“Bits”) Boylan considered part of their own family as well. The memories they, along with the Trohas, the Erichs, the Regulskis, and the Stauffers, created throughout their lives remain hilarious and cherished stories for us, endlessly retold and forever envied. So, as we bid farewell to Sharon Boylan, our mom, grandma, Nana, sister, and friend, we celebrate her life, cherish her memories, and find comfort in knowing that her spirit will continue to guide and inspire us. Her journey on this earth may have concluded, but her story is far from over. It still has many chapters yet to be written and we, her family, are honored to be its authors.

Tributes

Sharon L. Boylan

November 17, 1938 - December 2, 2023