November 14, 1941 - March 15, 2021
Sharon was born in Emo, Rainy River District, Ontario and passed after a brief stay at the Foothills Hospice, north of Okotoks AB, on a clear sunny day, surrounded by farm fields and a view of the snow capped Rocky Mountains.
After a COPD diagnosis many years ago, Sharon wasted no time living her life with as much gusto and moxy as she could. Her last few years were her most challenging, but she got out when she could muster up the energy to take a drive down to the Priddis store for a coffee and short visit with friends.
Sharon was predeceased by her parents, Charles and Alice Lanstaff as well as her two siblings, Beverly and Rocky Langstaff, whom both passed at very young ages.
She is survived by her three sons Randy, Kelly (Christine), Barry, and her ex husband Cliff Williams, whom she had remained good friends with.
They began raising a family in Golden B.C., where many memories were made and good times spent in the summers at the lake with family and friends. She enjoyed being a mom and home maker, and started working part time as the kids got older. To further her career, she took evening classes and then started working at an Accounting Firm in town. She very much liked working and earning an income.
Her next adventure was on her own, heading out with the boys and making a huge move to Priddis, Alberta in 1979. There she became an owner/operator of her own business when she purchased the local Priddis store. With much hard work and motivation she grew the business significantly and made many new friends in the community. After selling her business, she spent many years running the office at the Priddis Meota Gas Cooperative. She did some private book keeping after retiring and joined the Priddis-Westoe Womens Institute putting in many volunteer hours cooking up a storm for the events the AWI catered to in the community. This kept her awesome cooking skills sharp, but mostly she loved the social aspect of it all, and her friendships with the other members in the group.
Sharon was also very active in sports from skiing and racing snowmobiles, to team cattle penning, sorting, and cow-horse work. She also attended many camp out trail-rides with the local Ridge Riders Club.There was never a dull moment or waste of lifetime opportunities which kept her on the go between family and friends, work and socializing. She also enjoyed attending local rodeos and fairs, community functions, some of which she volunteered for. She always grew a good garden and enjoyed her fresh vegetables.
Sharon moved her mother Alice from Ontario, to Priddis to live with her during Alice’s later years. This was great company for both, and they provided shelter to many stray cats and dogs who found refuge with Sharon’s horses, all had a wonderful place to call home. Both women had a great compassion and love for animals.Sharon is also survived by her daughter in-law Christine and three grandchildren Thomas, Alicia, and Chantal, and most recent addition to the family, her great-grand daughter Elthea. Sharon often commented about the way Elthea spoke and her level of spunk and energy that brought her laughter and left her feeling elated after her visits. Her grand kids had spent many a weekend with her and put some good miles on her horses when they came out to ride. She was very proud of all their achievements in the figure skating world, and in present the endeavours they aspire to.
Sharon easily made friends and was well known within and beyond the Priddis Community. Priddis was Sharon’s home and place of refuge. She often said she felt at peace in the hamlet of the small country community, where many memories were made and stories were shared with her friends for years thereafter.
In honour of Sharon’s life journey, an open house Celebration of Life will be Held Thursday, September 09, 2021 at the Priddis Community Hall from 2:00 pm to 5:00 pm.
This will be catered by the Priddis-Westoe Branch of the Alberta Women’s Institute. A letter in memory of Sharon can be written, regarding how you got to know her and/or something outstanding regarding your relationship with Sharon over the years. Whatever your writing skills can muster up can be emailed to [email protected] (Co-ordinator for the memory letters and photos)
A special thank you to the staff of the Foothills Hospice and Black Diamond Oilfields Hospital, who have helped Sharon with her medical visits over the years. As well a very special thank you to the members of the Priddis AWI for hosting and catering the celebration and the Priddis Community Association for the use of the Hall.
Sharon was deeply loved and will be dearly missed by family, friends and the Priddis Community, may peace be with all.
