Sharon Bishop

Sharon Bishop was a woman who always knew what she wanted in life. She didn’t second guess herself, and when she’d made up her mind about something, that was the end of it. That was just the start of who Sharon was, though. She was a beloved wife, loving mother, devoted daughter and sister, and a friend to so many. She always knew what she wanted and she so graciously shared it with all who knew her.

Sharon’s story began on a cool fall day in 1945, in the bustling city of Grand Rapids, Michigan. Those were such exciting times in this country, as World War II had come to an end, and America’s heroes were returning home. On October 2, 1945, Thomas and Dorothy (Little) Borrello had even more to celebrate, with the birth of a baby girl, a daughter they named Sharon Lee.

Sharon was the first of the couple’s seven children, joining sisters Terry, Debbie, and Michelle, and her brothers Thomas, Ted and Robert. They were a very close-knit family growing up and remained so throughout their lifetimes.

Being the oldest, Sharon was also the most level-headed child of the bunch and helped her mother look after her little siblings. When Sharon was young, the family went camping together often, forming her lifelong love for the outdoors. They went to many of the state parks around Michigan over the years, and later in life, went to the family’s beloved cabin on Diamond Lake in White Cloud.

Sharon attended St. Francis Elementary School, and after the family moved to the north side of Grand Rapids, she went to Creston High School. When she was in the eighth grade, though, Sharon had a crush on a handsome young classmate named Keith Bishop. As it turned out, Keith had a crush on her, too, and when they got to high school together, they began dating.

In 1963, when Sharon was 18, she married that handsome classmate, the only man she ever loved. She knew when she met him that Keith was the one for her, and that was it.

The newlyweds moved into a lovely home on Coit, a home that meant so much to them, and where Sharon would live the rest of her life. Shortly after they moved in, Sharon’s parents bought the house right across the street, keeping the close-knit family so close together.

Sharon worked at a few different places after high school, but eventually went to work for Vanguard Fire and Security. She enjoyed it there, and worked for the better part of 27 years there, taking some time off to raise her son.

Sharon and Keith were blessed with a son over the years, Bob, who made her so happy and proud. She was a wonderful wife and mother, and the family did so much together, especially camping. They traveled around in their little pop-up camper, but most of the time the camper sat at her parents' cabin on Diamond Lake, where the whole family — 20 people or more — would gather every weekend.

Sharon loved going up to the cabin and loved being in and near the water. When she wasn’t swimming, you’d find her laying the sun, reading one of her Harlequin romance novels she always had. She was also the second person up in the morning (after her mother) and would cook a huge breakfast for the whole clan. If you slept in, however, you were on your own!

Sharon didn’t know how to cook small meals, though. She learned to cook from her mother, after all, who was always cooking for nine! She’d cook for her parents across the street, too, but there were always plenty of leftovers around Sharon’s home over the years.

Sharon had many other things she loved in life, of course, being the vivacious woman she was. She enjoyed watching TV, especially Murder She Wrote, game shows and the Sci-Fi Channel, too. She loved to gamble, going to the casinos and playing Bingo, which was nearly a nightly hobby for her around town — except for Mondays, when she bowled. Sharon was a good bowler and she and her brother even made it to the finals of a city tournament sponsored by WOOD-TV one year! Saturdays were reserved for her weekly card games with her brothers and sisters.

Sharon was also a world-class packrat who bought mountains of stuff from QVC. The UPS driver knew her so well, he’d just come right in the house to drop off the packages.

Most of all, of course, Sharon loved her family, the center that her life always revolved around. From her husband and son, to her parents and siblings and their families, Sharon loved them all so deeply. They spent so much time together, from vacations, to celebrations, to just simple card games each week.

Her family life wasn’t without its difficult times, though. Sadly, Sharon’s beloved Keith died in 1991, which she took so hard. He was the only man she ever loved and never dated anyone before or after. Then the next year, Sharon’s mother died, another terrible loss for her.

Sharon persevered, of course, as the family banded together. She thought about them often, as well, and loved to remember them fondly, telling their stories as though it was just the other day.

She loved to tell stories, though. She could talk your ear off if she wanted to, spinning a 30-second incident into a 20-minute monologue. Sharon could be quite an entertaining storyteller, and always enjoyed reminiscing.

Later in life, Sharon began having some health problems of her own, which slowed her down some. She was less able to get out and reserved her strength for work and spending time with her beautiful granddaughters, Carley and Jaycee, whom she doted on. And after a lifetime of helping others so selflessly, the hardest transition for her was accepting the help of others. She was a very independent person, and never wanted to be a bother.

Sadly, Sharon died on Friday, July 27, 2007, at the age of 61.

Sharon was such a wonderful woman, who lived a wonderful life, a life so full of family and fond memories. She was a deeply devoted wife, loving mother and grandmother, and a beloved daughter, sister and friend. Most of all, Sharon always knew what she wanted in life, a life she so graciously shared with all who knew her. She will be so greatly missed.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Keith; by her parents, Thomas and Dorothy Borrello; and her sister, Michelle Borrello. Sharon is survived by her son and daughter-in-law, Bob and Laura Bishop; granddaughters Carley and Jaycee; brothers and sisters Terry and Joe Kibbey, Debbie Stray, Thomas and Nancy Borrello Jr., Ted and Jana Borrello, Robert Borrello; many nieces and nephews and special friend, Peg Lusk. A service to celebrate Sharon’s life will be held on Monday, July 30 at 11 AM at Heritage Life Story Funeral Home – Van Strien Creston Chapel, 1833 Plainfield NE where relatives and friends are invited to visit with her family on Saturday from 7-9 PM and on Sunday from 2-4 and 7-9 PM when the Rosary will be prayed at 7 PM. Interment in Rosedale Memorial Park. Memorial contributions to a charity of your choice are appreciated. You may read more or share a favorite memory by visiting www.lifestorynet.com.