Sharon Lee Ouellette, 61, of Virginia Beach, passed away on Wednesday, November 10, 2010 in Norfolk. Born on December 24, 1948, she was the daughter of the late Gordon and Lora Raumaker.
Sharon is survived by her loving husband of 43 years, Bob Ouellette; two surviving sons: Al Ouellette and his wife, Kristine, of Virginia Beach, and Robbie Ouellette and his wife, Kelly, of Knotts Island, NC; one surviving daughter: Mickey and her husband Van, of Nicholasville, KY; two sisters and one brother
Fay Raumaker,Debbie Arredondo, and Gordon Raumaker, all of San Antonio, TX; six grandchildren: Hanna, Kacie, Tyler, Sara, Dustin, Mason; and one great-granddaughter, Marley, along with several nieces and nephews.
A private family gathering will be held. In lieu of flowers donations in honor of Sharon may be made to St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital at www.stjude.org/donate.
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We are so very sorry for your loss. Our thoughts and prayers are with your family. We love you.
It was always so nice talking to Mrs. Sharon when I had the chance. Whenever I saw her, she had always left me with a smile on my face. She really cared for her family, as they all did for her. My prayers go out to her awesome husband Bob, all of the Ouellettes, Sharon’s brothers, sisters, and whole family, and anyone else who had the chance to know this wonderful person. Please watch over us from Heaven and know that you are greatly missed!
Our love and prayers are with you.
We are so sorry to hear of your loss, and pray for your family’s comfort and healing.
Sharon was an amazing person whose light shone in the eyes of all the little ones who loved her. From the very first time I met her, I knew the children at Easter Seals had been given a gift. As for the grown-ups, Sharon’s humor and sharp wit made even the worst day better.
Don and I are so sorry for your family’s loss.
With our deepest sympathy..
Joyce and Don Christensen
We have heard such wonderful things about Sharon through her Granddaughter, Kacie. Sorry for your families loss. May she be at peace with her heavenly Father. Our thoughts and prayers are with her family.
Uncle and cousins.. we are praying for you in this time of loss for God’s strength and understanding. Though we are not with you in person, we are with you in prayer and thought. We miss you!
Sharon, you touched my life in so many ways. You were a blessing and a true angel to me and my daughter. You had such a loving spirit and was always so amazing. You were always in my thoughts and prayers! I love you always!!!!
Please know that we love you all so much and are so very sorry for your loss.
Every mother leaves this world aching at leaving her family behind. Only the knowledge that she has done a good job and her legacy remains helps her to let go. The love we experienced while being there was the living legacy of a wonderful and satisfied woman,mother,wife. Remember as long as there is someone to remember Sharon she is not gone.
I’m terribly sorry for your Loss. My prayers are with your family.
We are very sad knowing you are going through this terrible loss. I will always remember Sharon as a very funny and sweet lady. Whenever I saw Sharon, she had me laughing and whenever we came to town to visit my sister’s family near a holiday, Sharon would send over gifts/baskets filled with candy for not only her grandchildren, but my children as well, Hanna and Dustin’s cousins. It was very sweet of her to think of them. I know she loved her family and grandchildren very much, and we love you and are thinking of you all.
May you take comfort in knowing an angel is watching over you.
Christel Gifford
Our prayers are with you and your family through this difficult time. My God Comfort you and your family.
Ms Sharon was loved so much! She loved me like a mother and loved my son as her own grandchild. To have been loved by Sharon was to feel and know the real meaning. My thoughts and prayers go to her wonderful and loving family!
Ms. Sharon was my son, Jesse’s teacher some 22 years ago at Montessori. We all loved her and I will always remember her smile and infectious laugh. My deepest sympathy to your family.
My thoughts and prayers are with you in your time of grief. May your memories bring comfort.
To the family,
With great sorrow for your loss. May the memories of her love forever grow in your hearts and her laughter, jokes, good times and those private moments be held close in memories. I pray that God will bring a speedy recovery and heal the family with the loss of a loving wife, mother, grandmother and more…
I pray that Mrs. Sharon Ouellette find her place with God.
IJCN~ Amen
Ms.Sharon taught Jimmy & Sarah some 15 to 19 years ago they still have fond memories of her, she touched all our lives with her humour smiles and the children all gathered in her room because they loved her so! Our thoughts and prayers are with you and the family may God Bless you during your time of loss. Ms. Sharon very lovingand c aring person and will be greatly missed by many. Love The Agrios Family
Bob, Debbie, Fay, Gordon and family
Sharon had the rare gifts of true laughter, a generous heart, and the deep warmth of a beautiful smile. I am so fortunate to have shared some of that laughter with her. I will always have so very many wonderful memories of her. I know how much she loved you all. My thoughts, my love and my prayers are with you all.
God bless you and your family during this difficult time.What a blessing Sharon was to our family when we met her at Montessori!She was our rock during a difficult time. Etched in my mind is Sharon waiting for us early in the morning,with a great big smile and open arms. Amazing that she was still smiling and humorous when I came to pick up our little redhead late in the afternoon. The last time I saw Sharon was at KES and she was waiting for Hanna to be dismissed from school. I spoke to her as she sat in her red pickup,still smiling and funny as ever!Sharon is,was and always will be smiling down on us. Thank you for sharing her with us.With our love,
Carol,Vernon and Matt Kinsey
When I saw the notice in the paper, I was very sad to hear of Ms. Sharon’s passing. Ms. Sharon was both of my kids (Cassandra and Cameron) Montessori Teacher 17 and 15 years ago. How we all loved her and her welcoming and warm smile. She loved everyone and made my kids feel cherished in her care. We still talk about the days at MCH and the great teaching and encouraging environment it was for all the children. We will miss her and our prayers go out to her family.
Bob and family,
Our many condolences to you all. Bob my friend, I know this is such a hard time but continute to carry Sharon in your heart as you did every day. You are in our many prayers my friend.. Love to you and the kids..
Sharon… When I look back through all the memories I have of me and you, every single one of them brings a smile to my face. I’ll never forget the way I was so amazed that you could sing the harmony to any song. Especially the ones you made up. [Mom is jealous that you and I could do it :)] I’ll never forget your laugh or your smile. I’ll always remember your voice and the way it felt to hug you. I’ll never, ever forget the way you could make me laugh or the things you got me interested in. I still watch My Neighbor Totoro and Gay Purr-ee to this day. I’ll always remember the glasses you wore, the crinkle by your eyes and the way you would scoot to the edge of your chair when ever you had a very serious point to make. Or the look you got when you were exasperated. Or all the voices you used to make us laugh. I’ll always remember sitting on your knee when I was younger and counting my toes in a way that made me think I was sure I had 11…(“1-3, 2-3, 4-3…11 toes!”). I will never forget the way you always had an eye for beautiful things and loved to collect them. I’ll never forget much I love you. But most of all, I’ll never, ever, ever forget the way you made me feel so special and loved. I’m so sorry I didn’t call you more often. Knowing I didn’t get to talk to you as often as I should have will forever be a burden on my heart. But I am so thankful that you waited to go to a better place until I was there. I’m so so sorry I wasn’t there for you sooner. I know without a doubt in my mind that you loved me, but I just wish I had gotten a few more minutes to tell you just how much I loved you. Because it’s a lot… My greatest regret is that you will not be able to meet the kids I have someday. Because they would have loved you. They would have loved the strong, funny, beautiful and amazing woman you were. I’m so so lucky to have been a part of your life and to have had you in mine. Save a sunflower for me.
I’ll love you forever, I’ll like you for always. As long as I’m living, my Cha Cha you’ll be.
I love you 28 & 100 bucks…
Bekah Nano
Bob and family, I am so sorry for your loss. Sharon will always have a special place in my heart. My thoughts and prayers go out to you all.
Love,Kalen
My Dear Family,
I love and miss you all so much. I hurt for you and what you are going through and wish I could ease your pain.
I cannot express the depth of sorrow I feel having lost my big sister, my mother, and my friend. I was always close to her but when mom died, Sharon took over the role as my mother bringing us even closer. I always looked up to her as far back as I can remember.
She was the grandmother to my children that they never had, never once forgetting a birthday. She was as proud of their accomplishments as if they were her own children. She would cry to me about the distance between us and not being able to see them grow up.
It has been a month now and I still do not feel it is real. People keep telling me she is in a better place now; she’s not suffering anymore, no more pain. But I’m selfish–I don’t want her in that better place! I want her with ME! Talking, laughing, telling me how much she loves me and misses me. Listening to my problems and assuring me everything will be alright. When I wake during the night, it quickly enters my thoughts–she is gone–and I cannot breathe. It can’t be real. She is not gone. Then daylight comes and it enters my mind again, but I won’t allow myself to think about it, not yet. It hurts too much. So I quickly push it out of my head. I will have to face it someday, but not yet. In my heart, she is alive.
Bob, and all of my sweet family–the time with you all meant so very much to me and my kids. I desperately want to be with you all again. I’m with Sharon when I am with you all. All her life, her family was what was most important to her. I love you all so very much. I pray daily for your healing on the loss of your wife, mother and grandmother.
In another home,
in a happier place,
in a beautiful forever…
we’ll meet again.
I love you, Sharon.
Debbie
Mom,
Tomorrow is Mother’s Day and it’s hard to believe I won’t be seeing you. It’s been five months since you left us but it doesn’t seem like it’s been that long at all. I think about you often and I wish I could say that I just think of “all the good times”, but that’s not true, at least not when I’m by myself. I miss being able to hug you. I miss seeing your face light up when the kids were visiting, and I wish you were still here for Dad. When Dad, Rob, Mickey and I are together, we do reminisce about all the great times and what a loving and caring person you were and we laugh and we miss you. I have so many great memories of you and I am grateful for that. Some people may not be that fortunate. You were the best cook ever. You had a great sense of humor. You were always helping others. You genuinely cared about people who were struggling or less fortunate. You were very devoted to your family. You made sure I knew just how much you loved me. I love you like crazy mom. I wish I would have said it more often, but I’m sure you know that.
We all miss you mom, but we are happy that you are in Heaven and you are not in pain anymore and our Heavenly Father who loves you so much is with you now. Until we meet again mom…
Love,
Al
Mom,
Here it is a year later. Today was the last time I was able to hold your hand. It still does NOT feel real. I know you are with me, I feel you around me, and there have been many signs. Even with that being the case, I STILL FEEL VERY “LOST”. SO LOST! I want to pick up the phone and call you, I want to walk into your house and go to your room and see you there waiting to give me a welcoming hug. I need one from you, BADLY!! I feel without you this world is a strange place, and NOTHING makes sense anymore. I have small visits with you when I am asleep and dreaming. Only to wake up and realize… YOUR GONE! I want to go back to sleep and be with you again, but can’t. My emotions overwhelm me and my heart starts to pump out of my chest. I try to remember my dream with as much detail as possible, I find it very hard to do that sometimes. I try to make sense of my dreams, and wonder if your sending me a sign. In my dreams you are the Mom I lost before your disability claimed you. You are pain free and happy. I want to believe that you are pain free and happy Mom. I know that you are in heaven and you are watching over us! Sometimes that’s enough to keep me from falling apart. I have moments when I am by myself that the pain of loosing you is almost unbearable. So I try to push it away and keep busy, so I don’t feel the pain I feel because your gone. My numbness is quickly being replaced by utter saddness!
I know that you knew how much I loved and admired you. You were such a GOOD person Mom! You touched so many, many lives. Your family, students, friends, you were TRULY an ANGEL,in the truest sense of the word!! I want to THANK YOU MOM! For all that you built for us. The house you made a home. The relationships we have with eachother, they were all formed with YOU as the foundation! The memories we have and share. MOST IMPORTANTLY, the memories we have of having THE BEST MOM IN THE WORLD!!!!!
That’s how I know YOU ARE WITH US!! PLEASE DON’T EVER STOP!! I WILL FOREVER NEED YOU TO WATCH OVER ME!! I FEEL YOU WITH ME EVERYDAY!!
MY NECKLACE WITH YOUR “TOUCH” IS ALWAYS LAID BY MY HEART!
MY MOTHER,
MY HEART!!!!
I LOVE YOU TO FOEVER AND BACK!! YOU ARE MISSED MORE THAN YOU WILL EVER KNOW!!!
I LOVE YOU MOM!!!!
I was driving home this week and did it again…I picked up the phone to call you and share a funny story with you. Then it hit me. You’re not here.
Almost 2 years. How can this be? Living across the country from you for so long and our communication being mainly by phone, it is easier for me to pretend that I just haven’t spoken to you in a while than to face that you are gone.
You were an amazing mother, wife, sister, grandmother and teacher and made a difference in so many lives which will live on in others forever.
Love you and miss you every day.
Debbie
I write this to you Sharon. My Alexis and Niko have loved you since their days at MCH. Alexis is 25 and now a lawyer. Niko has taken a longer road; he is 22 and a junior at VCU. You have been the topic of so many conversations in our home that I can’t count. Many, Many times every year. For as long as I can remember, Niko’s prayers asked God to bless “Ms. Sharon.” … “God Bless MaMa, BaBa, Alexis, YaYa, Papoo, and Ms. Sharon”. We have photos of you and the kids in frames around the house. We have Christmas ornaments with your photo. We all still refer to Niko as “Niko Ko Kokkinos” – a name you gave him. You also named him frog boy because he wouldn’t let anyone hurt the frogs out in the school yard. You cross-stitched and framed a poem, “Daddy, please don’t go” for Alexis when Billy was going away to Somalia. It hangs on her wall. You are still very alive for us.
You were my friend. I loved hearing about Al and Robbie and Mickie. I remember talking about Pizza Hut and Red Hot Chili Peppers and Mickie’s loves. Remember how we used to say that you live every feeling, every happiness and sadness, that your children are going through. Then we talked about our husbands.
Then we’d laugh about all the drama at MCH; who was doing who…
And what a surprise it was to found out that Bob was taking my classes at TCC. I was so happy that I could help him use “life experience” to get credit toward his degree. He was smarter and more experienced than 90% of the rest of the students.
I remember when I was refinancing my house on a 15 year mortgage and I told you about it. You were excited about refinancing your house of Ripplemead too because it 15 years we’d own our houses. We moved to Florida for a job I got there so we never got to realize the full ownership. I saw that you moved to a new place; maybe you made it the full 15 years. MY goodness, that would have been 18 years ago.
Wow, and it was just about 6 months ago when we were up in the attic and found both Alexis’ and Niko’s “long papers”. They still remember what a big deal that was!
You know, I just found out about your death last week when I was looking you up to get back in touch. I wanted to see you again.We exchanged Christmas cards for years. I talked to you some time in the mid 2000’s. I had moved back to VA and was diagnosed with cancer. We talked about that. You told me that Melinda had sold the school. I was very ill and just can’t remember all the things we talked about. I don’t remember how we got in touch. I think Alexis sent you an invitation to her high school graduation. Now, I’m so, so sad that I can’t reconnect with you. I couldn’t tell my kids for days because I get so choked up. Alexis got out your photos. Niko, always very introspect, has a hard time talking about it. He told me on the phone, from college, he can still see your face exactly – after all these years. You touched his heart.
You can’t imagine how much impact you’ve had on my family. My kids have never loved any other the teacher the way the feel about you. Never. You are alive in them. Your spirit is the kindest, most lovely of anyone I ever knew. Really. I believe you really loved us. You made us feel like you loved us more than the others, Maybe you made every family feel like that but I chose to believe it was just us.
Sharon, if one of your children comes upon this I hope they will get in touch with me. I know they must miss you so much it will never stop hurting. I just want to tell them all the funny things we talked about, and about my feeling like I knew them even though we had only met a few times, and about how I know their Dad. But mostly how you’ve had this indelible mark on our family. And that most people could only hope to be loved and remembered by so many that they’ve touched. We all blow you a kiss.
Penny, Alexis, Niko and Billy
penny.pagona@gmail.com
She was the first born in her family. She was a strawberry blonde blue eyed angel, born in Austin, Texas in 1948. She was a little girl who loved dolls. She was a Catholic girl who loved to sing. She was a teenager who loved to dance. She was a role model to her brother and sisters. She was a loving wife. She was a daughter that wouldv’e made any parent proud to have raised. She was a mother of three. She was a cherished friend. She was a Montessori teacher. She was the foundation for many, many children, including myself. She was a Navy wife who founded “OPERATION YOU ARE NOT FORGOTTEN” in the early 90’s. She bought, saved, and collected gifts to give to children at Christmas time, because it broke her heart to think that there were children out there that wouldn’t have anything to open on Christmas morning. She gave to the needy on a regular basis. She was a very giving woman with a huge heart. She loved to garden and loved yellow roses. She loved tomato sandwiches. She was funny, she was smart, and she was beautiful. She was a grandmother of six and a “G.G.Maw” of one. She was my inspiration. She was a compassionate woman, a great woman who touched many, many lives. She left us FAR TOO EARLY. She is my gaurdian angel. She watches over me. I see her in my reflection. Her name? Her name was “Sharon Lee Ouellette” and SHE IS MY MOTHER!!!! Mom I miss you every second, minute, hour, day, week, month, and year that you’ve been gone. I LOVE YOU!! Thank you for being my Mom, and PLEASE continue to watch over me.
I miss you SO much Mom.. I think of you EVERY SINGLE DAY.. I wish SO badly I could talk to you!
I think of you and Dad all the time, and wonder if you are together again. My heart tells me you are. There isn’t a day that goes by that I don’t think of the 2 of you. I would do just about anything to hear your voice again. Please continue to watch over us. My Parents,
My HEART!!
Sometimes I can’t breathe, I miss you so much. Not a day goes by that I don’t long to talk to you, just hear your voice. When you left, I had Bob to keep that part of you here with me. Now that you are both gone the pain is sometimes unbearable. But I thank you for the amazing children you raised who have stood close to me and my kids. They are our connection to you both that live on. We’ve always been close but I know you are proud of how our family has gotten even closer since you left. See you when I get there. <3<3
5 years ago today, I got the call from Dad, telling me I needed to come home. He said something was wrong and he needed me. Without hesitation I packed my bag rented a car and headed to Va. The drive home was something that is etched in my mind, I was frantic, worried, absolutely terrified. Every update was worse than the last. When I finally arrived nearly 8 hours later, I was NOT prepared for what I would see. You, laying in the hospital bed, unaware of all that was going on around you. My whole world was shifted and I was is no way ready for the evening that was to come. I remember holding your hand and quietly begging for you to open your eyes, so I could tell you HOW MUCH I LOVED AND NEEDED YOU. I was too late, my only comfort was holding your hand.
Mom I MISS YOU!! I NEED YOU!! I HAVE NO IDEA HOW 5 YEARS HAVE PASSED WITHOUT YOU. The day I lost you was the first time I cried without you there to comfort me. You are always in my heart and always on my mind.
Please continue to watch over me.
My mother,
My heart!!
I miss you terribly. No words…
I love and miss you and Dad every single day.
My Mother,
My heart!
Oh…my sister, what I would not give to talk to you. To hear your voice even if for a minute. Not a day goes by that I don’t think of you. Love and miss you very much.
My sweet sister, I cannot believe it’s going on nine years since you left. It has definitely sunk in now and I think of you all the time. I miss you just as much as I did the day you left. More heartache, as we lost Bob just a few years back, then our brother Gordon on November 6th, 2017. I thought the pain could not get any worse but it did. Your sweet daughter, Michelle, left us on May 23rd 2018 after a 15-month battle with ovarian cancer. I still can’t believe so many of you are gone. My heart aches for all of you. I would love to hear your voices one more time. I cherish the dreams I have of you all. It’s like an unexpected visit, or as close as I can get to one. My prayer is that you are all together and waiting for us to join you.
In another home, in a happier place, in a beautiful forever… we’ll meet again. ❤