Victoria G. McSharry

Victoria was born on Oct. 23, 1929, in Greeley, Colorado, daughter of the late Antonio and Adela Quintana Gurule. Raised in Folsom, New Mexico, she was one of 10 children. She excelled in school and won academic scholarships, allowing her to attend college for a short time. She joined the U.S. Navy in 1951, serving in Washington, D.C., as well as France and Germany. As acknowledgment of her military excellence, she had the honor of shaking President Dwight Eisenhower’s hand. She met her husband Roger McSharry while both were stationed in Frankfurt, Germany. Married in February 1957, she raised four children in Olympia, Washington. Victoria worked many years for the State of Washington in different capacities, retiring as a medical claims adjudicator for Department of Social and Health Services. She also worked as a medical transcriptionist. After retirement, she served as a spiritual director to many in need of prayer, support, and guidance. A strong and beautiful woman, she faced with fortitude the challenges life presented and was justly proud of her accomplishments, professionally and personally, and of her children.

A deeply religious charismatic Catholic, her faith sustained her throughout her life. She prayed as she lived, deeply and fervently. She passed to her children her strong work ethic and a desire for excellence. Much loved as a devoted mother and grandmother, she was also a wonderful sister. She is remembered as the first best teacher of her children, a tireless worker, and a compassionate friend. Illness gradually claimed the many memories of her life, but offered in their place some years of peace and joyfulness unburdened by concerns. Even as declining health made communication increasingly difficult in her last years, those who spent time with her sensed the gentle, caring, and spiritual woman she still was. She will be greatly missed.

She is survived by her children, Roger McSharry, Jr., M.D. and wife Karen of Bristol, TN; Brian McSharry of Olympia, WA; Catherine McSharry and husband Holger Glatzel of Benicia, CA; and Patra Sevastiades and husband Dean Casperson of Duluth, MN; grandchildren LTjg Mark McSharry, USN, Virginia Beach, VA; Melissa Stewart, New Orleans, LA; Maria McSharry, Aurora, CO; Emma McSharry, Lacey, WA; Robert Glatzel, San Francisco, CA; Digne Glatzel, Berlin, Germany; Ramona Glatzel, Benecia, CA; and Eva, Tess, and Demetrius Sevastiades, Duluth, MN. Other survivors include sisters Nellie Meserve, Alamogordo, NM; Jennie Tafoya, Albuquerque, NM; brother Robert Gurule, Albuquerque, NM; and Roger McSharry, Sr., Port Orford, OR.

The family extends deepest thanks to the staff of the Memory Care unit at Broadmore Assisted Living in Bristol, as well as her caregivers at Bristol Nursing Home and Greystone Healthcare. Your care and kindnesses to our mother in her last years meant more than you can know.

A funeral mass and burial with military funeral honors will be in Olympia, WA on March 13, 2015 and are being coordinated by Mills and Mills Funeral Home. A memorial page is available at millsandmillsfunerals.com for condolences.

Victoria believed in doing good for those around her. To honor her memory, live in that spirit. In lieu of flowers, a contribution to the Alzheimer’s Association (www.alz.org) may help others one day soon.