Sharon Kay Freeman

Sharon, 73, of Broomfield, Colorado passed July 2, 2018.

Sharon was born January 21, 1945 to Aubrey and Dorothy Helland in Denver, Colorado. She had one older brother, Ron Helland. Sharon was raised in the Denver Metro area living primarily in Englewood.

Labor Day weekend 1956 was a life changing event for Sharon and her family. Her mom Dorothy died suddenly. This was the summer between 5th and 6th grade for Sharon. Her father had a similar experience in his youth and was passed around to many of family members for the remainder of his childhood. Aubrey was determined to keep his children with him and provide that sense of family. Sharon continued to live in Englewood with Ronny and her father.

Sharon joined Rainbow Girls October 5, 1957. Rainbow girls is an honor group of Job's daughters and the Masonic Temple. Aubrey was an honorary Rainbow Mom participating in all the Rainbow events with Sharon. She worked her way through the board positions and was Worthy Advisor her junior year in High School. Sharon loved her years in Rainbow and learned about service to family and community through this organization. It was one of the highlights of her life that she talked about throughout her life.

Sharon was also in the marching band in high school. Sharon expressed interest in playing the clarinet and was told by her brother she would be a talented Saxophonist. Aubrey got Sharon a Saxophone to play. Sharon talked about her ability to play music or march, but not both at the same time. She did love being in the band though and especially the Jazz band. There is even an album featuring the Englewood High School Jazz Band with Sharon pictured on the cover with the rest of the band.

High School was a time when Sharon spent all of her free time with her brother Ronny and his girlfriend at the time- Mary Jo, as well Larry and Gary Anderson, her cousins. She would talk about all the crazy stuff these boys did that made her laugh and enjoy the life of high school way more than the actual high school experience itself.

Sharon graduated from Englewood High School in 1963. She went to Mesa College that fall in Grand Junction, Colorado. During her time at Mesa College she met Jesse Freeman at the Pad, a local 3-2 Bar. Sharon would eventually leave college and move back to Denver to live with her cousins. She continued to be in contact with Jesse.

Jesse and Sharon got engaged March 17, 1965 beside St. Mary's Hospital. Clearly Jesse was not a romantic. They were married January 8th 1966. They were married in the Rec Room of Jesse's parents home in Grand Junction. Sharon's wedding dress was made by her Aunt as was the wedding cake. Sharon had a short dress which was very uncommon at the time.

Sharon worked a variety of service jobs during that time. Jesse and Sharon would move back to Denver within the year. In June 1968, she gave birth to her their son Kurt and two years later gave birth to their daughter Brenda in September of 1970.

Sharon began working for Conoco in the geological department maintaining the maps and materials used by the geologist searching for oil in the early 70's. In August of 1974, Sharon was able to quit her job and be a stay at home mom. Kurt was going into first grade and Brenda would be home for another year before starting kindergarten.

Sharon loved being a stay at home mom. She participated in the PTA at school and would eventually be the president. Sharon was a diligent housekeeper loving having a clean home for her family. She cooked big family meals with meat and potatoes every night. She made home baked cookies every week for lunches and home-baked desserts all the time. It was her favorite time with family.

In 1978 Sharon would return to the work force. She went back to Conoco in the geological department. She loved the people she worked with and that made being a working mom much more tolerable.

In 1979 Jesse accepted a job requiring a move to Casper Wyoming. Sharon being a Denver Native was not happy about that move at all. She and the kids drove to Wyoming leaving all of their friends and family behind in Colorado. Everyone would come to visit in Wyoming, but it just wasn't the same for Sharon. She found Casper to be much too small of a town for her liking. After a year in Casper Sharon told Jesse she was moving back to Denver and taking the kids. She hoped he would join her, but Sharon was going back in any case. Jesse and Sharon would return to Denver, Colorado together as a family in November of 1980.

Sharon started her longest career position as a customer service representative for local Business Supply Paper company called Business Printing. She became good friends with her work colleagues and enjoyed her worklife with such great people.

Sharon retired officially at age 62 in 2007. Not long after her retirement Sharon began to have issues with her left hip. It would take over two years to finally get it replaced. By the time she had the hip replacement she was so weak from not being able to walk more than a few steps to the bathroom due to intense pain. After the hip replacement the pain was gone, but the weakness remained. Sharon would walk with a walker for the remainder of her life.

In 2012 Jesse was able to retire as well and they sold their home and moved into the Highland Trails Assisted living facility. This was a positive move for both of them. They had 3 meals a day prepared for them. Sharon and Jesse enjoyed eating in the dining room and Jesse being the social one helped them meet and get to know many of their neighbors. Sharon enjoyed participating in Bingo twice each week – once for quarters and the other time for fun. She was much more interested in playing for quarters.

Jesse passed away in July of 2014. They celebrated 48 years of marriage. Sharon continued to live at Highland trails and participate in the life there until 2017.

In February 2017, Sharon fell in her apartment and broke her pelvis in 3 places. This prompted a hospital stay and significant loss of mobility. By May of 2017 she moved into Nursing care.

Sharon lived at Park Forest Nursing home from May of 2017 through April of 2018. She participated in Bingo there as well. She was able to get out using Accessa Ride to go to dinner with Kurt and or Brenda at least once each week.

In April of 2018, She was admitted to the hospital with pneumonia. After 13 days in bed and zero mobility, Sharon went to Rehab at Life Care Center of Westminster. She worked hard to regain her mobility, but ultimately was unable to do more than stand up. Sharon moved to long term care at Life Care Center of Westminster May of 2018.

Sharon was admitted to the hospital again June 23, 2018 with septic shock. Her body was so weakened that nothing medically seemed to be working. Finally on July 2, 2018, Sharon passed away peacefully with both of her children, Kurt and Brenda at her side.

She is preceded in death by her husband, Jesse; and brother, Ronny Helland. Sharon is survived by her children, Kurt & Brenda; grandsons, Alex & Donoven; great granddaughter, Aryanah; in-laws, Mary Jo Helland and Joe (Gail) Freeman.

Memorial Services honoring Sharon will be on Saturday, July 21, 2018, beginning at 9:30 AM, Horan & McConaty Family Chapel, 7577 West 80th Avenue, Arvada, Colorado 80003.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made in Sharon’s name to:
Ronald McDonald House Charities of Denver
1300 E. 21st Ave., Denver, Colorado 80205
or
St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital
P.O. Box 1000, Dept. 142
Memphis, Tennessee 38148-0142

Please share your memories of Sharon and condolences with her family by signing the guestbook below.

Memorial Service: July 21, 2018 9:30 am

Horan & McConaty - Northwest/Arvada
7577 W. 80th Ave.
Arvada, CO 80003