08/24/2026
Sharon Lee Hale
Sharon Lee Hale, 68, of Paw Paw, passed away peacefully surrounded by love. She was born on December 22, 1958, in Kalamazoo, Michigan.
Sharon was a loving daughter, sister, aunt, cousin, caregiver, artist, devoted friend, and passionate animal lover. She lived her life with a caring heart and had a remarkable ability to form deep and lasting connections with the people who were fortunate enough to know her.
Sharon was preceded in death by her beloved mother, Eileen DeVries, who she loved dearly; her father, Harold Hale; and her brothers, Donald Hale, Dennis Hale, and Larry Hale.
She is survived by her beloved sister, Carleen (Hale) Jenney, her only living sibling. Sharon loved her sister deeply, and their bond as sisters remained an important part of her life. Carleen and her partner, Dave, shared many special times with Sharon, including taking her on weekends together. Sharon developed a warm and loving attachment to Dave, who became an important part of her life as well.
Sharon is also survived by her beloved nieces and nephews, including Christopher and Stephen, the sons of Carleen; Jamie and Dustin, the children of Dennis; and Bradley, the son of Larry. Sharon treasured each of them and the special relationships she shared with them. She is also survived by many beloved cousins and extended family members, including Beth, with whom she shared many wonderful memories and stories throughout the years.
Among those who held a particularly special place in Sharon’s life was her cousin, Father Paul Redmond, a Catholic priest. Father Paul was not only Sharon’s cousin, but a source of spiritual comfort and love throughout her final days. He visited Sharon several times during her final week and was with her to administer her last rites, offering her peace, prayer, and the comfort of her faith. Father Paul will celebrate and officiate the Mass in Sharon’s memory at St. Thomas More Catholic Church in Kalamazoo.
For many years, Sharon made her home on Sharon Drive overlooking Ackley Lake in Paw Paw, in the home that had been left to her by her mother. There was something fitting and endearing about Sharon living on Sharon Drive beside the lake - a little coincidence that became a favorite joke among those who loved her. Her home, her lake, and the Paw Paw community held a special place in her heart.
Sharon was blessed with many dear friends in Paw Paw and throughout her life. She had a way of making friends who remained important to her for many years, and she treasured the people who became part of her life.
Sharon was an avid animal lover, and animals brought her tremendous joy. Her beloved dog, Brandy, was especially precious to her and was truly the love of her life. Brandy was Sharon’s devoted companion and brought her comfort, happiness, and unconditional love. Brandy continues to be lovingly cared for by Janice and Bob Waldo and will always be a cherished reminder of Sharon and the love they shared.
Sharon was a talented and gifted artist who created beautiful paintings. She found joy in expressing herself through her artwork, and her paintings reflected her creativity and the beauty she saw in the world around her. Her art will remain a lasting part of her legacy.
Sharon devoted much of her working life to caring for others. She worked as a caregiver for elderly people in their homes, giving her time, patience, compassion, and kindness to those who needed her. Caring for others came naturally to Sharon, and she touched many lives through her work.
One of the greatest blessings in Sharon’s life was the friendship she shared with Janice Waldo. They met when they were both in their early thirties and went on to share nearly four decades of friendship. Over the years, their friendship grew into a bond that was much more than friendship - it became family.
In the later years of Sharon’s life, when illness changed the course of her life, she came to live with Janice and her husband, Bob. Their home became Sharon’s home, and their friendship became family. Janice and Bob cared for Sharon with love, patience, compassion, and devotion, and Sharon loved them both deeply in return.
Sharon adored Bob, and their relationship was a special part of the years they shared together. She was not simply living in their home - she was loved as family. The three of them shared laughter, memories, difficult days, ordinary days, and countless precious moments that will never be forgotten.
For the final year and a half of her life, Sharon resided at StoryPoint in Portage, Michigan, where she became a much-loved member of the community. Her nurses, aides, caregivers, and the entire staff came to know Sharon and the special person she was. They adored her, cared for her with compassion and dignity and became an important part of her life. Sharon received excellent care throughout her time at StoryPoint, and during her final days, her hospice team provided her with comfort, peace, and loving support. Her family and friends will always be grateful to the nurses, aides, staff, and hospice caregivers who cared for Sharon so beautifully.
During Sharon’s final week, as she peacefully transitioned from this life, she was surrounded by people who loved her. Her sister Carleen, her dear cousin Beth, and her dear friend Janice were by her side. Beth was present with Sharon each day throughout her final week, sharing quiet moments, memories, stories and companionship. Sharon was also blessed with visits from her nephews Bradley, Chritopher, and Stephen, as well as the loving presence and prayers of her cousin, Father Paul.
These final days were precious and will forever be remembered by those who shared them with her. Sharon was surrounded by family, friends, and caregivers who wanted her to know that she was loved and that she did not have to make this final journey alone.
Sharon had a special gift for touching people’s hearts. She was loved by her family, cherished by her many friends, and remembered by the countless people whose lives she touched through her kindness, compassion, creativity, and caring nature.
Her passing leaves a tremendous emptiness for all who loved her. But her memory will live on through her sister and family, her many dear friends, her beautiful artwork, her beloved Brandy, and the many lives she touched. Sharon’s life was a gift to those who knew her. She gave love freely, cared deeply, created beauty, and left the world a little better because she was in it.
Rest peacefully, dear Sharon. You were deeply loved, you were never alone, and you will forever remain in the hearts of all those who were blessed to know you.
A memorial Mass will be celebrated at 10 AM on Friday, August 28, 2026, at St. Thomas More Catholic Student Parish, 421 Monroe St., Kalamazoo, MI 49006, Fr. Paul Redmond, Celebrant. A luncheon will follow the Mass, and she will be laid to rest at Riverside Cemetery, Kalamazoo, that afternoon. For those wishing to make a contribution in her memory, the family suggests St. Thomas More Catholic Student Parish, SPCA of Southwest Michigan, or Centrica Care Navigators.
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