Sharlene Joan Lafontaine

Sharlene was born on January 14, 1933, in Akron, Ohio to the late Carliss and Edna (Fessler) Slife. She was a graduate of Akron East High School. She was married to Ray N. LaFontaine and shared over 40 years of marriage together until he passed away in 1995. She was a past member of Zion United Church of Church in North Canton. In her free time, Sharlene enjoyed reading and working on jigsaw puzzles. She was also known for being a great baker. She was the neighborhood mom and always took care of those around her when they needed her. When Sharlene was 40, she had been on a horse-farm and contracted viral encephalitis from a mosquito bite, which greatly affected her life. After her husband passed, Sharlene then lived at Amherst Meadows for 30 years, where they took great care of her. Sharlene’s family is very grateful for the care that Amherst Meadows provided for her.

Sharlene is survived by two sons, Larry and Jim LaFontaine; three grandchildren: Tim (Rachel) Jauman, Jennifer Friend, and Lindsay (Moody) Enaiett; seven great-grandchildren: Ashley, Cole, Olivia, Aiden, Elise, Isabelle, and Pierson; and several nieces and nephews.

Along with her parents, Carliss and Edna, and her husband, Ray, she is preceded in death by her daughter, Debbie Jauman, and her sister, Dorothy Salmon.

A graveside service for Sharlene will be held on Saturday, September 13, 2025, at 2:00 pm at Forest Hill Cemetery in Canton with Reverend Gary Smith officiating.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made in Sharlene’s name to the Stark County Humane Society at https://www.starkhumane.org/donate.