Sharon Ann Spaulding's Obituary
Sharon Ann Spaulding (née Spencer), age 70, of Hazel Park, passed peacefully in her sleep on Sunday, November 27, 2022, at Royal Oak Beaumont Hospital.
She was born August 18, 1952, daughter of the late Fred (late Mattie) Spencer and the late Bertha (late Robert) Shaw.
Sharon was preceded in death by husbands Raymond Gary Spaulding and Eddy James Nielsen; brothers Henry Spencer, Michael Spencer, James Ronnie Spencer, and Jimmy Shaw; sisters Mary Helen Shaw and Judy Lyn Shaw; stepsons Douglas Nielsen and Eddy “Jamie” Nielsen; niece Tanya Spencer; great-niece, Lynsy Spencer; grandson Blake Walker; and great-grandchildren Aubrie Nielsen and Kingston Nielsen.
She is survived by children Ken (Audra) Spaulding, Robert Yarbrough, Charlene (Aaron) Bochenek, Kerri (Jared) Collins; stepchildren Debra (Norman) Adkins, Judi (Norman) Elsner, Denis Nielsen, and step daughter-in-law, Lisa Nielsen; sisters-in-law Tina Spencer, Diana Whitson, and Lilli (Stan II) Rutzel; nieces Lori (Bob) Lavoie, Mandy (Anthony) Duran, Jenny Miley, Tracy Bowman, Amy Laws, Sara Whitson, Victoria Shaw; nephews Matthew Whitson, Stan Rutzel III, Fred Miley, Jody Shaw, and Robby Shaw; eighteen grandchildren and fifteen great-grandchildren as well as many great-nieces, great-nephews, and numerous friends.
Sharon was born in Waukegan, Illinois, spending her childhood in Baltimore, Maryland, and Hopkinsville, Kentucky, before settling down in the metro-Detroit area. Sharon spent most of her days crafting, sewing, and quilting. When she wasn’t making beautiful things, she was reading novels or watching crime shows and Hallmark movies. She loved spending time with her kids as they all tried to claim the title of favorite child and “light of her life”. When confronted about this, she said she had a candelabra and they were all the lights of her life. Her grandkids and great-grandkids loved spending time with their beloved grandma, mimi, and mema Sharon. Her handmade Christmas gifts and homemade pies were always appreciated during the holiday season.
Her absolute favorite movie and obsession was The Wizard of Oz. In the movie, Dorothy wakes up to her family all around her when she said there was no place like home. Sharon peacefully fell asleep, dreaming of Oz the whole time and just decided to stay there instead. She is now home somewhere over the rainbow.
A Memorial Gathering will be held Friday, December 2, 2022 from 5-8 pm at Hopcroft Funeral Home, 31145 John R. Road, Madison Heights.
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