Sharon G. Finch

Sharon G. Finch, 79, of St. Joseph, Michigan, passed away, Monday, February 1, 2016 following a brief illness with her family at her side. A Celebration of Life Service will be held 11:00 A.M. Tuesday, February 16, 2016 at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, 914 Lane Dr., St. Joseph, with The Rev. Dennis Remenschneider officiating.  Burial will follow at Lakeview Cemetery in St. Joseph.  Memorial donations in Sharon’s name may be made to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation or St. Paul’s Episcopal Church. Those wishing to sign Sharon’s Memory Book online may do so at www.starks-menchinger.com. Sharon was born May 2, 1936 in Wyandotte, MI. She graduated from Traverse City High School, Class of 1954 and from Bronson Hospital School of Nursing in 1957.  On November 23, 1957, she married Fielding Finch in St. Johns, Michigan.  Sharon was employed first at Bronson Hospital, as a nurse for several Kalamazoo Pediatric Doctors, and then retired from the Emergency Department at Lakeland Hospital in St. Joseph after many years.  She continued to help people in her neighborhood with nursing care, and volunteered at Jefferson School and Bard School and as the Shiawasse Girl Scout Camp nurse. Sharon was a member of St. Paul’s Episcopal Church where she loved to sing in the choir and served as a Eucharistic Minister.  She was a member of the Women’s Service League and served as a board member and past president of the YWCA, and served at the state level with the American Diabetes Association.  In her spare time, Sharon enjoyed sewing, knitting, promoting Diabetes awareness, and cooking wonderful dishes for her family. In Sharon’s quest to remain as fit as possible she discovered competitive race walking and participated in many events throughout Southwest Michigan. Sharon took great pride and satisfaction in her collection of event t-shirts and haul of medals and ribbons. Sharon was a strong woman of deep, abiding faith, who bore her diabetes affliction with dignity & grace.  She was more than a wife & mother-she was a true friend.  She will be deeply missed by all who knew and loved her. Sharon is survived by her husband Fielding; her son Matthew Dale Finch of St. Joseph; her grandson Edgar Townsend; great-grandson Elias Townsend and another great-grandchild on the way; her sister Sandra Neibaur of Marquette, MI; her brother-in-law Tom Swiat, Sr., and numerous nieces & nephews including special niece Shelly Morrill of Coldwater, MI.  She was preceded in death by her daughter Kenna Lee Townsend, brother Ronald Morrill and his wife Connie, brother-in-law & sisters-in-law-Jetta Swiat, Jean & John Hoekje, niece Connie Morrill, nephew Ronald Morrill, Jr., and her parents-Kenneth & Eleanor (Schroeder) Morrill.  Sharon’s family would like to thank and express their appreciation to the following  for their wonderful care over her many years of managing her diabetes: to the memory of the late  Dr. Hari Malik, MD, Dr. Craig Okonski DPM, Dr. David Cooke MD, Dr. Gary Ludwig OD, Dr. Edward Atwood DDS, Dr. Sven Erickson DDS, Dr. Thomas Pow MD, Susan Jepkema, RN CDE Deb Vliet NPC and to the VanAntwerp family and the pharmacists and staff at Van’s Pharmacy.  The family would also like to thank her longtime friends Bonnie Russom and Sandy Hopkins for keeping her nails and hair always looking marvelous.  Her longtime co-worker and very special friend Ruth Crow RN held a special place in Mom’s heart and also in ours.