Sharon O'Brien Fitzgerald

When Sharon Fitzgerald walked into the room, those in her company felt energy, an enthusiastic spontaneity. This was just one example of who Sharon was and how she impacted those around her. Sharon was a clever and gregarious person who always sought out the finest attributes in other people. It was as if Sharon wanted to share all of their experiences, revel in their lives and celebrate their discoveries. Sharon was tireless and had boundless enthusiasm that would serve her well throughout her life.

She was the daughter of Charles and Merle O’Brien. Sharon was raised in Pueblo, Colorado. While some who knew Sharon might describe her as an idealist, her friends and family understood well that Sharon was always in pursuit of life’s endless possibilities and opportunities available to her.

Sharon was raised with her one younger brother, JJ. Sharon was very accepting and supportive of her family. She was perceived as the central person in her family in terms of keeping communication open between the family members. These traits served Sharon well in her adult life and, along with her wit, outgoing personality, and understanding of others, drew the admiration of many who knew her.

As a young girl, Sharon was able to empathize and identify with a vast array of people and personality types. This quality drew her into a diverse group of friends and acquaintances. Sharon was intelligent and had little trouble getting along with her peers. Sharon’s favorite childhood activity was horse back riding on her Aunt Irene’s ranch. Sharon had the ability to find amusement with almost any activity and many of her childhood memories were stories about working and attending her Aunt Irene’s ranch.

Sharon did well in college, as a result of her comfort level with tackling new theories and her love of learning. She earned her license as a dental hygienist from Long Beach Community College. Sharon enjoyed working with Dr. Catuli and his dental practice. Sharon was very adaptable, a quality that helped her make the transition from high school to college with little difficulty. As a result, Sharon's problem solving skills and thirst for new knowledge almost guaranteed that she enjoyed virtually every class she took. Sharon was always in quest of new things to learn and experience

With a talent for making acquaintances easily which in turn brought her an endless stream of friends, Sharon was very sociable and could blend without effort into any social group. Assertive and outgoing, Sharon was easy to know and demonstrated a deep concern for others. She always seemed aware of what was going on with people around her and throughout her life she made many, many friends. While growing up, her best friend was Lois Kearney.

Sharon's skill at “building bridges” played an important role in her ability to make her new family happy. She was quite sensitive towards Gary's needs, showing her constant concern and fondness. Sharon was tenderhearted and sensitive, qualities that served her well in helping to nurture her family.

Sharon was a natural and creative parent who was willing to provide her family with all sorts of new and interesting experiences. For Sharon, parenting was a particularly enjoyable and pleasurable part of her life. Sharon's skill at understanding her children's feelings, her sensitivity to their needs, and her gift for gentle persuasion enabled her to find novel solutions to any problem or situation that might arise. Sharon was blessed with two children: daughters, Erin Lynn and Megan Marie. Sharon and Gary were also blessed with 4 grandchildren, Margaret, Calum, Blaire and Wiley.

Sharon derived much satisfaction from participating in and watching sports. Her charisma, supportive nature and ability to improvise when called upon to do so all made perfect attributes for enjoying a great many sporting activities. Recreational sports included yoga, tennis, golf and bridge. Sharon was also something of a sports fan and enjoyed watching her favorite events whenever she got the opportunity.

Throughout her life, Sharon was actively involved in professional and community organizations. She was compassionate, accommodating and quick to move into action. Those who had the opportunity to work with Sharon usually agreed that when you were involved in an organization with her, it was as entertaining as anything you could imagine. Throughout her later years, Sharon was an active member of the Lakes Committee at Sea Cliff and volunteered at Batatiquos Lagoon in Carlsbad, CA.

Sharon was a woman who was dedicated and devoted to her faith. She was a member Saint Vincent de Paul Catholic Church. She was sympathetic and able to empathize with others and she used these qualities to the fullest while working tirelessly for her beliefs.

Sharon's love of improvising in her daily life was a perfect fit for her enjoyment of traveling. Her favorite vacations were ones that were not planned. Traveling in a casual manor fit her personality well. Excited about seeing changing scenery and constantly looking for the enjoyment life could offer, Sharon took her vacations seriously, well, as seriously as she possibly could. Favorite vacations included the 50th Wedding Anniversary trip to The Boadmoor in Colorado Springs Colorado, Croatia, and Italy.

She is survived by her brother, two daughters and 4 grandchildren. Services will be held at Saint Vincent de Paul Catholic Church in Houston, Texas. Sharon will be laid to rest in Dallas, Texas at Highland Park United Methodist Church.

There was always a certain style and inventiveness to Sharon. She was a dynamic, self-expressive person who was forever looking to celebrate the endless possibilities life had to offer. Sharon was clever, creative and witty, and for others, was a joy to be around. While she was often fiercely independent, it seemed as if many others looked to Sharon Fitzgerald for inspiration, leadership, wisdom and even courage. Sharon was always more than willing to share life’s experiences with her loved ones.

Donations can be made in memory of Sharon O. Fitzgerald, to Scripps Health Greatest Needs. Go to

https://donate.scripps.org/giving/scrippshealth

Please be sure to mark "this donation is in memory of someone special" and fill out the requested information.

Gifts made by check should be made payable to Scripps Health Foundation in memory of Sharon O. Fitzgerald and mailed to: Scripps Health Foundation P.O. Box 2669 La Jolla, CA 92038

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.earthmanbellaire.com for the Fitzgerald family.