It is with great sadness that the family of Sharen Ann Marie Socholotuk (Sam), 54, announces her passing on Saturday, April 2, 2011 at the Health Sciences Centre in Winnipeg, Man. after a long battle with cancer.
Sharen was born in Fort Frances, Ont. on Thursday, July 26, 1956 to Alex and Mary Socholotuk.
Sharen finished her high school years in Fort Frances, then went on to further her studies at the University of Manitoba. Upon graduation, she applied for a position with the Customs and Excise Department within the federal government in 1980.
Once she accepted a position with Customs full-time, she then began to move up in the ranks through the years with positions in Emerson, Boissevain, Winnipeg, and Ottawa. Her last posting was in Winnipeg, where she worked until she retired.
Her résumé was as accomplished and exemplary as it could get.
As a child, Sharen’s life-long dream was to work at the United Nations in New York City and live in Manhattan. Her mother once told her that if you excelled in other languages, “you can, too, work at the United Nations.”
In 2001, Sharen applied and was accepted to work for the UN for a two-and-a-half year stint. Sharen loved New York and gained a myriad of friends, not only at the UN but throughout her career with Canada Customs. Sharen lived her dream to the fullest.
Sharen was an intelligent, witty, gregarious, affable, and spiritual person. She was somewhat adventurous and travelled to Europe, Hawaii, and Ukraine. But her short excursions included trips to Atlantic City, Las Vegas, and Florida, whether it be to shop or visit her favourite casinos.
She lived life on her terms.
Cherished memories will always be with the family, especially her cousin and good friends, Thomas, Pat, Rhonda, the two Debbies, and Maggie, who conducted the dedicated nightly vigils in her last days.
Sharen will lovingly be remembered and deeply missed by her father, Alex; brothers, Richard (Tracy) and Allen (Josee); and all the cousins, aunts and uncles, and nephews, Chris and Mike, but especially by all her close friends and Customs “family.”
Sharen also met many friends through the St. Andrew’s College hockey team, where she attended to study Ukrainian languages and culture.
She graduated from the University of Manitoba with a science degree in chemistry and zoology. She took her teaching certificate in 1978 at the University of Manitoba.
Sharen was predeceased by her grandparents and mother, Mary; as well as several aunts, uncles, and cousins.
Sharen’s longtime friend, Cheryl, best summed up Sharen by saying, “She was very spiritual and always marvelled about the world. She was the best friend that many of us ever had and we will miss her the rest of our lives. She was a friend of my heart and the sister of my soul.”
Sharen once wrote to her brother Richard, “I have lived two of my life-long dreams and wonder now about the dreams of an adult. S.A.M.”
Visitation will be held Sunday, April 10, 2011 from 6:30-8:30 p.m. at Green Funeral Home in Fort Frances, with prayers being held at 7 p.m.
Funeral services will be held Monday, April 11, 2011 at 11 a.m. at St. George’s Ukrainian Orthodox Church in Fort Frances, with Fr. Gene Maximiuk and Fr. Oleg Krawchenko officiating.
Interment will take place in Riverview Cemetery in Fort Frances at a later date.
The pallbearers will be Dennis, Terry, and Ralph Soderholm, Lyle Smith, Chuck Armit, and Stan Sockolotuk Jr.
The honourary pallbearers will encompass her many friends and acquaintances.
If friends so desire, in memoriam donations may be made to the Canadian Cancer Society or the Riverside Foundation for Health Care c/o Green Funeral Home, P.O. Box 427, Fort Frances, Ont., P9A 3M8.
Online condolences may be made offered at www.greenfuneralhomefortfrances.com
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