Sharon Margaret Backer

Sharon Margaret Backer (nee Cottrell) passed away on November 23, 2024, at the age of 86. She was born August 21, 1938, in Detroit, daughter of John and Mary (nee Young). Sharon attended St. Anthony and then St. Jude Grade Schools, and Harper Woods High School. She worked at Palmer Moving & Storage before dedicating her love to raising her family, chaperoning countless school fieldtrips four times over, volunteering at St. Jude whenever and wherever needed, working the voting precinct in Harper Woods, and being a supportive friend to many. Later she was proud to work with her sons at Backer Landscaping, and at Whistle Stop Hobby & Toys with her dear friends. Above all she loved nothing more than devoting her time together with Joe, her husband, to creating a loving and welcoming home, gardening, baking, cooking fabulous comfort food, road trips, and all things family. She cherished being wife, mom, mother-in-law, grandma, and friend.

Sharon’s family was her greatest source of joy. She was predeceased by her loving husband Joe, and she found great pride in her daughter Gretchen and sons Joseph Jr. (Amanda), Kurt (Laura), and Karl (Leslie). She treasured her grandchildren: Benjamin (Krysten), Zachary (Toby), Rachael (Colton), Andrew, Maxwell, Bridget, Eric, Nicholas, Paden McCown, and Katherine (Alexander) Partridge; and great-grandchildren Lucas, newborn Johnathan who she was looking forward to meeting, Adelaide, and was excitedly awaiting the birth of Hudson. Sharon is survived by nieces, nephews, and cousins, and was predeceased by siblings Jerry, Leo, John, and Evelyn.

Memorial donations may be made to the Parkinson’s Research Foundation (www.parkinson.org ) or the Kirk Gibson Foundation (www.kirkgibsonfoundation.org).

A memorial mass for Sharon will be held Saturday, December 21, 2024 at 10:00 AM at St. Paul on the Lake, 157 Lake Shore, Grosse Pointe Farms, MI 48236. Mrs. Backer's family will receive guests at 9:30 AM.