It’s 3 yrs now and it doesn’t get easier. I miss talking to you every day, and at times think I can’t wait to tell Sherry. I’m sorry that the physical distance between us did not let me know the extent of your sickness. I feel I let you down on so many levels.If I was there, maybe I could have helped. I hold in my heart the many memories of us & you. I will never forget you or the love we had. The Twin bond can’t be broken. Rest in your Heavenly Home. Missed till I see you again

(Part 4) We went stand up paddle-boarding, though she spent the majority of the time doggy-paddling. I talked about us doing aerial yoga. She would have cracked up when I finally went that a bunch of capillaries on my face and neck busted, leaving red and purple splotches all over. 
On my way home from work I’d call to see what was new and she’d be watching her shows, the Bachelor, America’s Got Talent, or American Idol. We’d exchange stories of the stupid things we had done lately. She would have found it hilarious that the interview I had the day after her death I had my fly undone the whole time. It wasn’t realized until an hour and a half after. She would have found it even funnier that I was hired. We would have joked it must have been due to the undies I happened to wear that day.
She was proud of me. I’d go to a doctors appointment with her and even before I began the nursing program she would tell everyone I was going to be a nurse. She called me during the first week to describe symptoms of some ailment she had, thinking I was full of knowledge already and could save her a copay.
She had bought me the EXACT. SAME. BIRTHDAY CARD. THREE YEARS IN A ROW. THE EXACT SAME. She had no idea.
Some of my favorite memories are of sing-a-longs to oldies in the car (especially Sherry by Frankie Valli), or bike rides to the gas station to get slurpees. 
She loved her dogs. She would come home on her lunch break to take Carmen out. She would take her for multiple walks. Or (more accurately) let Carmen take her for walks. She was devastated when she had to get rid of Styx because she couldn’t trust him. She believed dogs should always have a buddy and she wanted that companionship for Carmen. 
She struggled in the kitchen. She was famous for the fire alarm going off when she did give it a go. Then you would hear my dad yell, “Sherry’s cooking again!” The three meals she was legendary for were cornflake chicken, igloo meatloaf, and beer can chicken.

(Part 3) She was a hard worker. She took pride in the job that she did and was loyal to her employer.
She loved buying and watching her five grandchildren open gifts. She would take pictures of them that coated her walls. She was the only person I knew who still used a disposable camera- but also the person who would most likely benefit from switching to digital. Her pictures would be blurry beyond comprehension, or have a person’s head missing. I think one year we had gotten her a camera… but it never made the journey out of the box. I repeat, that woman was stubborn.
She was super funny. She had a laugh that would cause people in public to turn and look. We loved teasing her about her Wisconsin accent, asking her to say words like “boat” and “coat”.
She didn’t like driving in Detroit. If she needed to go downtown for something she would lure me with the promise of lunch so I would take her. Even though when I had the choice I would always let Steph drive because I don’t like it either.
Instead of clothes or gift cards for holidays, we opted to spend time together. Trying out whatever new fitness craze she could locate a Groupon for. Experiencing new restaurants and ALWAYS saving room for dessert. She would look up the menu ahead of time so she had a plan, then hastily change her mind when the cute waiter suggested something else. She would look at me and say, “OOOOHHHH does that sound good!”
There was some stuff we did she was not a fan of. When I took her to Bikram Yoga she said after that she would watch the girls anytime I wanted to go, so that she would not have to be subjected to that torture again. Following directions was also not her strong suit. We went to Adventure Park, which is like obstacle courses in the trees that you are harnessed in for. I think she made it less than ten minutes before I had to flag an employee to get a ladder to get her down since she was stuck, just dangling from a rope with no way to get up. 

(Part 2) She took care of her body. She enjoyed her morning exercise videos, programmed her coffee pot the night before to make her green tea, assembled a shake with protein powder and blueberries for breakfast, and had a cupboard full of solely vitamins. She would reveal her age proudly, knowing that she was that many years YOUNG and that there were bound to be comments about how great she looked.
She tried EVERY new beauty product… but it didn’t always prove the results she wanted. Right before my wedding it was Rembrandt whitening strips. She had a reaction and spent the day dodging pictures since she looked like a Dr Seuss character trying to find her way back to Whoville.
There had yet to be an infomercial she didn’t get excited about. A new, ground-breaking product that was going to simplify her life and leave all the rest of us still hunting and gathering for food. 
I have never met anyone who could clearance-shop like that woman. She could put mall walkers to shame with her stride and I’m pretty certain she could smell a good deal. She would call to tell me I had to stop by to see the new Jennifer Lopez top she used her Kohl’s cash on, or the dress that still had the tags on it she got with her 50% off Value World coupon, showing me the new additions to her excessive wardrobe. She had a style that was certainly all her own and still believed in the power of shoulder pads.
She bit her nails. Or chewed them. I’m not even sure. All I know is it looked like each individual one had been slammed in a car door at some point. Knowing her lack of coordination that could have very well been true. She would fall up the stairs. She had broken the same toe three times, TWICE THE SAME EXACT WAY. Once she created her own therapeutic shoe to assist it’s healing. She cut space for her pinky toe to be outside of her black flat and it was the most ridiculous thing I have ever seen. My friend and I randomly send a picture of it back and forth when we need some comic relief. 

My Mom. (Part 1)
She was a creature of habit, routines, and extremes. She didn’t understand the word ‘moderation’ and never went only halfway on something. She would get on these kicks where she would eat the same meals, weeks in a row. Til all of a sudden she would tire of them and one phone call later I would be the proud new owner of seventeen boxes of frozen Lean Cuisine sesame chicken dinners, or Steph would have to dig through six boxes of Blueberry Morning cereal to get to the pancake mix. I’m not even sure what she used flax meal for, but we now have two giant packages of it that expired in 2015.
She was a sucker. I can’t remember a time my brother and I couldn’t con her into allowing us to open our Christmas gifts early. Sometimes weeks ahead of the holiday.
She was kind. She would do anything for the people she loved- even if it meant putting herself in an uncomfortable position.
She was crazy stubborn. Like...REEEEEALLY stubborn. Unless you were John Tesch or Dr OZ, good luck trying to counter something she believed. For a gift one year we had given her an uber expensive water bottle that she promptly refused to use until we got her a different mouthpiece. She had seen on the show The Dr’s that straws could cause increased wrinkles around the mouth and she would not have that!
She loved redecorating. Often on a whim she would call and tell me she decided to re-paint a bedroom or ask for my help in tearing up tile. It looked like Hobby Lobby had thrown up in her house with all the flower arrangements she put together. She loved planting flowers and had elaborate plans each season on where each bloom would fit best in the scheme of her yard. She had a drawer-full of flower tags she kept, so if they did not last as long as the mail-order catalog said they would she could contact the company for a replacement or refund.
She didn’t age. In fact, she continued to look younger. Oh man, she would eat it up when people would comment that we looked like sisters! 

It says 2000 characters and with tears streaming I say that's impossible! This is so hard,  Just over 10 years together and in the prime of our life. Some much joy and laughter, from the simple things like riding our bikes or spending weekends on the boat up north. Every Friday at 5, me, you, Toby and Tasha up to our home on Houghton Lake praying the weekend would never end. So much love was shared along our walk together in this lifetime. With eyes red I remember all your sayings, the normal everyday sayings like "there's two ways to skin a cat' would be twisted and combined with other sayings that made no sense but made you uniquely you. That one might have come out "There's two ways to kill two birds in the hand and one in the bush with a cat" You had to know Sherry to understand the way 'sayings' would come out. We had talked about putting her "Sherryisms" in a book because everyday there was a new one. I never stopped loving you and wished we had a different ending. It seems like it was just yesterday that I held you in my arms. You will remain forever in my heart and I will miss you always. I know your energy lives on and your next chapter continues in your heavenly ongoing! With buckets of tears, I say goodbye for now, and wish you love along your way. 
Kim, Brad, Sue and Rick and the rest of the family; my heart and all my love goes out to all of you!  I wish I could be there on Sunday but can't get away right now. I love you all!!! - Stephen 

I cannot say to you all how sorry I am to have learned of Sherry's passing.  We worked together for over 13 years.  Sherry was such a lovely person...she was always so thoughtful, caring, and compassionate (and was an incredibly hard worker, as an aside).  To Kimberly & Bradley, I know she loved you both more than words could say, and was so proud of you both, not to mention the pride and love she had for all her grandchildren.  To her sister Sue and Sherry's brother, I again am so sorry for your loss, I know how much she loved you all as well, how close you were and can only imagine how you're feeling right now.  
I heard a couple of things at another funeral a while back that I want to share & hope gives YOU some light..."those that have passed are like the leaves of trees, while fallen, they nurture the ground for the future of all the ones they have loved."   
"...as for your loved one, she is like the Stars during the day...though you cannot see her, you know nonetheless, she is there".  
Blessings, light & love to you all.  

My twin, my best friend. What am I to do without you?  It still feels unreal. I know you are happy with Mom Dad & Barry.  I have so many good memories of us! I feel like half of my heart is missing! Rest In Peace in the arms of God. I will always love you

One year, Sherry, Andrea, and I went to Downtown Detroit.  It was Thanksgiving Day, and we had signed up to participate in the Turkey Trot 5K walk that year.  I remember we got up extremely early and even despite that, we had many laughs and enjoyed the day. 

Sherry will truly be missed.  My deepest condolences to her family and friends.  

Rose McDowall

I knew Sherry through her children Kim & Brad as a stepparent for 15 years and a friend for over 20 years. She loved her children, and spoke lovingly about them. She loved being a part of their lives and the lives of her grandchildren. I won't forget your smile, kind words, and our conversations about your hopes for your awesome kids.  Thank you for the parenting encouragement you gave me - and the laughs we had! You were always willing to help and encourage your kids. You will be missed...Rest in Peace.

Michigan Humane Society

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Committal Service and Urn Burial

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Kimberly (Stephanie Rausch) Werman

OBITUARY

Sherry Ann Johnson

July 16, 1956 – June 10, 2018

Harry J Will Funeral Homes

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