Sharon Elizabeth Cudd Wirant

Her parents, Richard J. and Patricia (McElwee) Cudd welcomed their daughter Sharon into the world on April 12, 1967, in Elizabeth, NJ. In her early years, Sharon resided in Gibsonia, PA, later moving to Clifton, VA where she was a 1985 graduate of Robinson High School in Fairfax County.

While Sharon began her post school life as a procurement officer at the Bob Ballard Woods Hole Oceanographic institution, it was her love of caring for people and animals that soon defined her future. She began this pathway by receiving her massage therapy license from the Bancroft School of Massage in Worcester MA. She shared her skills with both humans and with animals.

She then attended Keene State College and continued her education at Smith College in Northampton, MA through the Ada Comstock Scholars Program for women of nontraditional college age, receiving her undergraduate degree and subsequently a master’s degree in animal behavior. This led to careers helping animals at both the Monadnock Humane Society and then onto the ASPCA as an animal behaviorist caring for thousands of animals in her career.

It was through the sport of Dog Agility that she met her husband of 25 years, Mark, and they shared what became a lifelong passion together. Sharon taught, competed and judged the sport internationally and was highly accomplished with several different breeds of dogs, winning many awards. Agility provided Sharon with the opportunity to develop friendships with people all over the world whose relationships she valued.

Always looking to grow and help others, she began providing personal coaching support, published a book to help others to manage their chronic fatigue and at the time of her passing Sharon was working towards her master’s degree in marriage and family therapy at Antioch University.

Sharon will be greatly missed, especially by her husband of 25 years Mark A. Wirant of Westmoreland; parents Richard and Patricia Cudd of Howell Township, NJ; sister, Janet Booth and her partner Jeff Scheiner, of Southport, NC; sister-in-law Lauran Wirant and her husband Norman Robison of PA; her nieces and nephews, Matthew Booth of Olympia, WA, Rachel Booth of Richmond, VA, Sarah Downing of PA, and Michael Camus of MD; and her cherished seven dogs and a host of people around the world.

Visitation and celebration of Sharon’s life will be held on Sunday, March 9, 2025, from 1:00 to 4:00 at the Foley Funeral Home, 49 Court Street, Keene, NH.

In lieu of flowers, for those who wish, donations may be made in her memory to the Monadnock Humane Society, 101 West Swanzey Road, Swanzey, NH 0344