"Sharon was one of the most loving people I have ever known. She loved her family, her friends and animals, including horses, and used to ride until she lost her sight. Horses feature in 'Her Biggest Fan' and 'Christmas Angel'. She loved Ireland and often talked about her visit there. She also talked about the little black cat, Freddie, she used to have, which she obviously loved and missed very much. Now they are re-united beyond the Rainbow Bridge!
And of course she loved being creative. When she could could no longer create beauty with her brush to used words to paint her pictures and tell her stories - and what stories. I first met her when I read an interview where she mentioned how she'd turned to writing after she lost her sight. I was so full of admiration for this brave, determined woman and had to drop her a note. She answered my email straight away and we started corresponding and soon formed a lasting and loving friendship. I offered to make a trailer for her lovely Easter Inspirational story 'Lasting Love' and was so happy to be able to do something to help publicise her book.
It was never one sided either. Sharon was always so full of gratitude and appreciation of any little thing one could do for her, and it was always a pleasure to help out.Sharon was the most generous and giving person, and would always be the first to offer an interview or a promotional post on her blog, where one would be waited upon, and flirted with, by her charming Man Friday, Oliver. The day she came out of hospital after her first heart attack, she telephoned me to wish me a Happy Birthday. I am so glad I got to hear her voice through our telephone conversations. Her physical presence will be sorely missed by her friends and loving family, but her spirit lives on and her words will continue to give pleasure now and in the future.
LYN"
If there’s one person in this
world who has taught me so much and influenced me on a positive level, it’s my
aunt and godmother, Sharon Donovan. She has lived nothing less than an
inspiring life in which she still continues to impress those all around her,
especially me! I can only hope to be half as successful as she has been, while
managing to overcome nearly impossible obstacles.
At the young age of twelve, Sharon was presented
with disturbing news that was sure to affect anybody’s life. She was told that,
by the age of twenty-five, she would lose her sight. The cause of this
(tragedy) was diabetes, which had been diagnosed at the age of six. In her late
teens and early twenties, Aunt Sharon became involved in art classes and
demonstrated true talents at painting. When the day came, though, that she
could no longer see the canvas in front of her, she had no choice but to give
up her dreams of painting. However, this did not discourage her. When painting
was no longer an option, she turned to a new outlet: writing. Now, nearly
thirty years later, Sharon has put so much time and effort into writing and has
become the author of three published novels, and countless short stories.
As if suffering from diabetes and blindness
wasn’t enough, last month Sharon suffered a major heart attack and a stroke as
well. The chance of a complete recovery was pretty slim, but my family never
doubted her ability to over these obstacles. Sure enough, she did. Though much
has changed and she will have to be more careful than ever, Sharon found the
strength to make it through. In her heart, I believe she knows she still has
much more writing to do, and I believe that her writing will only improve. Not
only has Sharon handled these situations well, but in the years between, she has
gone through numerous surgeries, therapy, and countless doctor appointments. I
truly believe that my Aunt Sharon’s story is amazing and one that could anyone
could look up to.
Sharon’s strengths and perseverance have
influenced me in so many ways and have made me see things in a new light. First
of all, one of her clearest, most admirable qualities is determination. Not
only has she decided to live her life to the fullest, but she always strives to
help others in the process. I can go to my aunt for help with anything, and I
know that she’d be there for me. She also taught me to have faith and strength.
Without these things, I now know it is impossible to survive any sort of
challenge in life. To reach goals, we must believe in ourselves and she has inspired
me to do just that for my future. My aunt has given me even more reason to want
to be as educated and successful as possible. Finally, one of the most
important things I have learned from her is not to take anything in life for
granted because it could literally be gone in a second.
I am so thankful to have the opportunities that
I’ve had in my life. Even more importantly, I’m extremely blessed to have
Sharon Donovan not only as my aunt, but my godmother. I’ve learned to see life
in a new perspective and appreciate all things that have come my way when I
strive to achieve, while at the same time staying motivated to be successful.
Kendal McCaulley
This was written by Sharon's niece. It got her
accepted into one of the colleges she applied to. She loved her Aunt dearly.
And what a great role model she had in Sharon!
Sharon had an impish sense of fun and loved getting up to mischief at the Roasts. Her quirky sense of humour made us smile and our pranks on each other were always played with love. Here are some excerpts of her comments on past Roasts:
"Sharon ever so slyly sneaks
up on Mary and Lyn,
sweetly offers banana splits,
then swiftly shoves
in their mugs and runs
off singing
roll out those hazy crazy
lazy days of summer..."
"Hi Lyn sweetie, give me a hug.
Isn't Scotland beautiful, and the castle
is so whimsical. I'm so glad that
Nessie didn't steal Mary's hooters."
Hugs sisters, looking good girls,
even sopping wet.
What fun we'll have,
my butt is wiggling
to the pulsating water jets.
OOOO I hope
they'll play Shake Your Bootie
so I can show 'em
how a real woman shakes it!
"Paul, here I am, a
blood thirsty Irish lassie
here to swoon over
a writer of Irish songs.
Save me a dance, handsome,
right after I kick up me heels with Pat.
*Wink*"
"Sharon runs from Mary and her squirt gun
through the caves,
Lyn, a hair behind.
Somehow they
find those same steep steps
and take another tumble down.
Just another roast and toast."
"When God calls me home and I soar into the sweet hereafter, I would
like to think I made a difference," she told me. "We are put on this earth for a
reason. We all have a mission. If we do enough soul searching, we’ll find the
answer. For the longest time, I didn’t
know why I was put on this earth. During my long bout with progressive
blindness, I walked around aimlessly, searching, wondering, floundering. Nothing
made sense. And after the final operation that took my remaining vision
overnight, I wanted it all to end. No more heartache. No more pain. Peace and
tranquility. If I couldn’t see or paint, what was
the point? But God works his magic in mysterious ways. When one door closes,
another door opens. And once I took the first step to regaining my life back,
they have never stopped opening. I think my purpose on earth is to create words
of inspiration. Never give up on a dream. Reach for the stars. When my star
faded, it was up to me to polish it and make it shine. And long after I’m gone,
my star will twinkle in heaven with eternal brightness because I completed my
work on this earth."
Sharon 'in costume'
