Sharon Lynne FitzGibbon

Sharon Lynne (Burkhardt) FitzGibbon passed away peacefully June 12, 2025 in Jacksonville, Florida. She was surrounded by family in her last days. Sharon was born March 26, 1940 to Frederick Roland and LuVerne (Thrune) Burkhardt in Kansas City, Missouri. She was raised in St. Louis, Missouri where she attended Catholic schools and later graduated from nursing school. She was a big sister to Fred, Connie, and Donna. After marriage and the birth of Peggy, they moved to the Navy Base in Beeville, Texas where her children Michael and Karen were born. She moved to her husband’s hometown of Coral Gables, Florida, in 1966 where Joan, Bill, and Anne were born. They enjoyed a wonderful childhood there with their loving mom always ringing the dinner bell, to call them home from their neighborhood adventures.

Sharon moved to Jacksonville, Florida to be near Peggy and her first grandchild. Eventually all her children would follow her to the greater Jacksonville area. This is a testament to her qualities as a mother. While she enjoyed hobbies such as gardening and knitting, her true passion was her family. Sharon became a grandmother to nineteen and a great-grandmother to fourteen, fostering these relationships with morning coffee, Winesdays, Sunday and birthday dinners, and many holiday traditions. The highlight of her year was the annual family reunion in Crescent Beach, always stocking her condo with snacks for all.

Sharon was the ultimate caregiver. She resumed her nursing career in her forties, spending nearly twenty years as a loving hospice nurse. She also served as a home companion for many, developing close bonds with them and their families. One of her greatest gifts was sensing the need of others and graciously offering to fill it. She loved donating to charities and strongly supported our soldiers and veterans. All her neighbors knew her as a kind, generous woman.

Sharon is preceded in death by her parents; her big brother Ronnie, who died at age 5; and her loving grandson Brian.

She is survived by her siblings Fred (Molly) Burkhardt, Connie (Mark) Frank, Donna Burkhardt; children Peggy (Wayne) Stefanski, Mike (Dana) FitzGibbon, Karen (Scott) Stanfield, Joan (Scott) Kingston, Bill (Anna) FitzGibbon, Anne (Tony) Maldonado, her eighteen grandchildren and fourteen great-grandchildren. She also had many nieces, nephews and extended family who loved her dearly.

Sharon had a strong Catholic upbringing and her faith was the core and essence of who she was. Upon receiving her diagnosis in early May, Sharon was immediately wrapped in the love of her family. She had constant daily visits where they gathered in her living room reminiscing, sharing stories and supporting each other. Sharon proclaimed May 2025 the best month of her life, which is a true testament to the peace that she found through her faith, and the joy and love she found in her family. This faith also allowed her to see the best in every person and in every situation, and provided the peace that sustained her which she passed to every person she met. She prayed continually for her family and those prayers were felt and provided much comfort. Her family was everything to her. Anybody that knew Sharon would say she saw the best in you and believed in you. She was the consummate friend and biggest champion, or as her granddaughter would say, our “hype-girl”. Everyone who came in contact with her left a better person. She taught us how to love and how to be.

A visitation for Sharon will be held Monday, June 23, 2025 from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM at Hardage-Giddens Funeral Home, 11801 San Jose Blvd, Jacksonville, FL 32223.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you make a donation to the charity that is most important to you in her name.