Sharon Valerie Hansen

Sharon Valerie Hansen was born on May 7th, 1957 in Duncan, British Columbia. Arriving at the time of year when spring is flourishing in all its glory after a long winter, Sharon embodied this season throughout her life. To know Sharon was like stepping into a spring day after months of darkness and rain, knowing that there will be colourful, joyous days ahead. In any room, her presence was immediately felt.

Family and friends describe Sharon as a tour de force, a professional table dancer, red wine expert, and an adventurer. She lived life to the fullest and with an unwavering sense of curiosity. Nowhere was out of bounds of Sharon. She traveled far and wide with her partner Barry and close friends, favouring the paradise beaches of Thailand and Indonesia, the fairytale beauty of Ireland, and the vibrancy of Mexico. Sharon could always be counted on for a wonderful (often hilarious) tale about her latest travels, sharing her unique perspective on the places she visited. Not a beach she walked on was left without a careful search for the perfect pieces of beach glass that would be added to her collection back home. Her closet contained many bright sundresses to take on her travels and almost no winter clothing. We are often told to dress for the life you want, and Sharon did one better - she created that life.

A homemaker, Sharon was equally known for the fantastic mother she was as she was for her adventures. Her daughter Keelin often called her "Hazel's Amazing Mother" in reference to a favourite childhood book Sharon would read her before bedtime; she delighted in being able to relate to the titular character with her own amazing mother. The world she created at home for Keelin was full of love, humour, and valued the often imperfect reality that we live in versus pretense and farce, something that allowed her daughter to remain true to these values in a world that has further clung to artifice. However, reality can be magical and Sharon certainly made it as such. Her beloved and well tended to garden drew constant marveling, 5 star meals were served daily, birthday cakes were decorated better than the bakery, and rooms rivaled magazines while being put together for pennies. Encouraging her daughter to read, explore nature at the family cabin, and play pretend, Sharon gave Keelin the lifelong gift of using her imagination as for she knew the value that it truly played in creating a delightful home for her family.

This extended to any and all guests at the Hansen/Glatley household. Anyone knew that if they were invited to a dinner party or simply staying from out of town, it would be fantastic, full of delicious food and plenty of laughter. There was no denying the level of warmth and love that radiated from the house. In her final days, a nurse noted that she could feel the love coming from Sharon's room, proof that her light could not be contained, no matter where she was.

Sharon was unfortunately taken from us far too soon at the age of 66 on September 29th, 2023. 10 days before she passed, Sharon would have been boarding a flight to Italy to cross another adventure off her neverending bucket list. Although Sharon is no longer with us, her spirit and energy lives on. To anyone reading this, please don't be afraid to take a page from Sharon's book. Dance on the tables, take the trip (and get a great glass of wine when you land for her!), and don't be afraid to really, truly, be your magical self. And most importantly, allow that self to be truly loved. Sharon is loved to the moon and back, and always will be, a tour de force that will never be forgotten.