SharonLee Quincannon

Portland, ME - SharonLee Hawkes Thurlow Quincannon, 78, of South Portland, passed away at Maine Medical Center on Sunday, February 20th with her daughter Elaine Falconer and a couple amazing nurses by her side.

Sharon was born on May 23rd, 1943 in Portland, Maine to Arthur and Shirley Hawkes. She attended Portland schools and studied music, with a concentration in voice, at the University of Maine in Fort Kent.

In April of 1965 she married James L. Thurlow and they moved to Syracuse, NY and eventually to Buffalo, and had two daughters, Elaine and Jeannine. After their divorce in the mid 70’s she moved back to Portland to be close to her parents. It was here that she established herself and lived for many years on Fessenden St.

She worked for 30 years in the medical field, mostly for ophthalmologists and at the end of her working career she retired from the Maine Eye Center. Sharon was very involved in ministries at various Catholic churches in Portland and South Portland. For years she was a parishioner at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Portland where she sang in the choir sharing with others her beautiful, soprano voice. She was in the initial group of PMDP members (Parish Ministry Development Program) and developed wonderful, lasting friendships as a result. She was a volunteer at the Chaplin’s Office at Maine Medical Center bringing Holy Communion and sharing prayers with the sick for 20 years. She initiated a first of its kind, faith healing support group for divorced and widowed persons called SHARE. She was quite honored to help others through her church ministries. Sharon was sober for 40 ½ years and gave thanks daily to Bob Martin, who was courageous enough to confront her, allowing her to admit to herself and others that she was an alcoholic and needed help. Sharon found love later in life and was married to her wonderful husband, James Quincannon, on September 30th, 2005. They had a beautiful marriage and adored each other greatly.

Sharon’s greatest joy in life was her family. She had profound love and great pride for her daughters Elaine and Jeannine and her five grandchildren James, Andrew, Eli, David and Briella. She also had “the most wonderful friends God could give anyone” in Marianne (who was more like a sister to her) and Joel Chapman with whom she was friends for over 40 years.

Sharon was predeceased by her parents Arthur and Shirley Hawkes and an older sister, Shelia Elaine, who only lived a few hours. She is also predeceased by her two husbands, James Thurlow and James Quincannon. She is survived by her daughter Elaine Falconer and her husband Robert of South Portland and her daughter Jeannine Thurlow of Tampa, Florida. She is further survived by her grandchildren James, Andrew, Eli and David Falconer and Briella Thurlow. She is survived by wonderful cousins including sisters Deb Hubbard and Cheryl Flis and Roderick (Rick) Hawkes all of MA. She is also survived by many wonderful friends including Marianne and Joel Chapman of Portland. She wished to convey to all her friends how truly blessed she was to have know them.

A Mass of Christian burial will be held on Saturday, March 5th at 10 a.m. at Holy Cross Church located at 124 Cottage Rd. in South Portland.

Donations in Sharon’s memory can be made to the South Portland Food Cupboard and sent to the following address: South Portland Food Cupboard, 130 Thadeus St., South Portland, Maine, 04106