Sharon Ann Suedkamp

It is with broken hearts, but grateful spirits that we say goodbye here on earth & celebrate mom’s new heavenly birthday. The “&” wasn’t a typo, it’s a grateful recognition of Our Lord’s promise fulfilled.

Mom touched the lives of so many in countless quiet and nurturing ways. She was the last of the original AB and Lela Smith family to pass through the pearly gates, and her most fervent and passionate prayers in the last years is that Rose, Pat, and Harley Mullins, Viv, Karen, and Orly Sisco, Junior and Helen Smith, Maynard and Lorene Smith, Laurence and Clara Smith, Dale, Lisa, and Phylis Smith, Donna, Gail, and Keith McReynolds, Bonnie, Elvis, Elden and Howard Hinton, Bobbie, Debbie, Robbie, Richie, and Frank Stephens, Deanna and Jerry Hansen, Lucky, Dorthy and Guy Smith, Pete Smith, Sheila and Tim Delaney, her wonderful in-laws, Rosemary, Lorraine, and Richard Suedkamp, Dick and Ron Suedkamp and Greg Savage, her mom, Lela and dad AB Smith, and of course, her husband, William Suedkamp, whom she loved with all her heart since the very first time they met in 1965, are all there happily waiting behind Jesus with open arms ready to hug and welcome her home.

One of Mom’s greatest gifts was showing us that there is always room for one more in a family, and one more seat at the table. We are very comforted knowing there was a place saved for Mom at the banquet.

There’s no sure way to know what heaven is like, but most would agree that Sharon was able to bring and share some of its light and warmth to the 84 years she was asked to spend here with us. Sharon was a “Martha” always working quietly behind the scenes to make sure everyone was fed, everyone had a gift, everyone had a place at the table, a ride, a glass of tea, and a safe place to share their story, and that Shannon and Kelly her daughters were always ready to “get all 100s” at school. She was one of the smartest people you would ever meet but had the grace and humility to let others have that stoplight.

She spent her youth in Aurora, Colorado surrounded by her large family and good friends. Aurora was just a small town then and Washington park was the home to many family picnics full of good food, softball games and loads of laughter. She graduated from Aurora Central High School. She was an excellent student and loved singing in the choir with her sister Sheila and playing the sax and bass drum in marching band. Her first job was working at the lunch counter of a Woolworth. Then she worked at Gold bonds.

Sharon would marry Bill Suedkamp, a young man from Ohio who was in Officer Training Camp at Fitzimmons army chapel on August 17, 1965. They honored their vows for richer and poorer, in sickness and in health for the rest of Dad’s life, and she continued to love him with all her being after his passing on January 27, 2021 until her last breath. All of her adulthood, except the first year she and Bill spent together in Indianapolis while finishing his tour of duty, were spent in Northglenn, Colorado. Sharon shared her families patriotism as they supported, prayed, loved, and waited for the many men of her family and the Suedkamps who served during Korea and Vietnam to return home.

She loved cheering on the Broncos, Rockies, Nuggets, and Avalanche with family. Sharon and Bill’s door was always open and their counter always had a cherished guest sitting at it. She worked hard to host countless family barbecues each summer, birthday parties, holidays, and an annual Christmas Sing-along. All that work was her way of letting you know she loved you. So too were the hours sewing upholstery as Dad cut the fabric and nephews Pat and Jay or Shannon took turns reassembling them in the garage Dad built with his own hands with the help of Jerry, Jay, Keith, Pete, and our beloved friend from two doors down, Marvin Getz. Anna Mae Getz was Mom’s best friend and was always there sharing her homemade Italian delights or just the daily stories and a glass of tea.

She and Bill were founding members of Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church and served as a Eucharistic Minister for several years. Shannon and Kelly would follow in their ministry and serve communion. Mom beamed every time she shared the story of Father Marty saying it looked like an episode of “Family Feud” when the whole family would serve communion together. Sharon and Bill took special care to make sure their daughters, Shannon and Kelly, celebrated all of their sacraments from baptism right up to Kelly’s marriage to Chad Bailey and Shannon’s to Steve Meyer. For several years, they helped at Immaculate Heart of Mary’s food bank. Sharon extended her love and service beyond her family and faith to the many students she sat side-by-side helping as a special ed. para in Adams 12. She retired in 2014. Having brought hard earned patience, knowledge and love to the kids at Westlake and Silver Hills Middle schools.

Another way she shared lessons from heaven was watching how her heart and love would grow exponentially with the birth of each grandchild, she loved Stevan and Will Bailey and Ethan and Katie Meyer and her great-grandson Ryker with every fiber of her heart. For many years she and Bill were their ride home from school, and the first one to ask how their day had been. She looked forward to every game and concert, to every report about school and friends and even after her health and mobility made it too difficult to attend, she held everyone’s schedule close to her heart and couldn’t wait to see the pictures and videos.

She leaves many beautiful hand knitted sweaters and Afghans to remind us that by using God’s gifts we can offer comfort and warmth.

She leaves the memories of silly songs, country songs, beautiful hymns sung on cross-country roadtrips, quick trips to the store, while cleaning, preparing a meal, or putting us to sleep or giving us a bath, and the lesson that God’s joy and soothing can ring in the simple harmonies of the heart embedded forever in our lives. One of the most difficult parts of preparing for her service was selecting the songs, because none of them sound as rich and beautiful without her voice singing in perfect harmony.

She leaves the lessons of how to lose and win gracefully in board games, card games, backyard volleyball games, and life. She leaves the lessons of how to parent, how to love, and how to pray. She leaves the lesson that love can often look like a clean dish and fresh laundry, a well sewn piece of upholstery, or an assignment completed and turned in. She also taught that true peace and calm can be found on the back porch listening to the rain or watching the hummingbirds feed on the honeysuckle bush.

Her last several years were spent in chronic pain and frustrating immobility. From her chair she still orchestrated the care for Bill, as he fought through Alzheimer’s, and the many challenges and celebrations that our family shared. In her final months of being bedridden, she cherished the many prayers and calls, and especially the visits and loving words from Todd, Carla, and Christian, Tammy and Shelley, and Lavonne, the wonderful hospice nurses and the angels from IHM who brought Jesus to the house every week. We have been honored and profoundly grateful for the extended time we had to share with her here, and are deeply grateful that her prayers to be welcomed home have been answered. May the lovely notes of her and her sisters’ identical laughter once again ring in completed harmony. May she be reunited with her life’s love, and all her family she has missed so dearly, and may she see the Lord’s face and live forever in his grace.

A Visitation will be held at Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Parish, 11385 Grant Dr, Northglenn, CO 80233, US, on November 6, 2026, at 10:30 am with a funeral Mass to follow.

A Committal Service will take place at Olinger Highland Mortuary & Cemetery, 10201 Grant St, Thornton, CO 80229, US, on November 6, 2026, 12:30. There will be a reception at Immaculate Heart of Mary following the committal.