Sharon Bialas

With unending devotion to the people and things she was passionate about, Sharon Bialas was such a blessing to everyone she met. She had a fun-loving quick wit and could always be counted on to tell things like they were. With the brightest of smiles, it was easy to see that Sharon’s greatest treasure was found in her family that grew to include the children and grandchildren who were her greatest source of pride and joy. She freely offered her unconditional love, and she gave the best advice as well. Truly beautiful on the inside and out, Sharon will be deeply missed but never forgotten.

The 1950s were a decade to remember. Blue jeans became part of our wardrobes and Elvis Presley became known as the king. It was in the mid-fifties that Rosa Parks transformed history when she refused to give up her seat on an Alabama bus, and by the time the decade drew to a close we have grown to a nation of 50 states with the additions of both Alaska and Hawaii. It seems only fitting that it was during this vibrant time that Robert “Bob” and Vera (Munsen) Barnett announced the birth of the baby girl they named Sharon Lee on May 18, 1951, in Chicago, Illinois. Interestingly, upon her birth there was a bit of confusion as her Aunt Jackie received word that she was actually a boy!

In many ways, Sharon was a young girl of her generation. She was raised in the family home in Calumet City, Illinois, which is a small town near Hammond, Indiana, that is well known for its role in the movie Blues Brothers. Sharon’s family always gave her a hard time since the city is known for its jazz music, but also for its large number of strip clubs! Her parents owned laundromats and auto body shops to support their family. Because her mother came to America from Germany as a young girl of eight, Sharon was very much German. She enjoyed playing clarinet in the band as a student at local schools. Sharon was thrilled to move from glasses to contacts, opening up a whole new world. She treasured the companionship of her dog, Pierre. Sharon’s high school years found her at Thorton Fractional North (TF North) where she loved playing in the band and was also a cheerleader. After graduating from high school in 1969, Sharon continued her studies at college for two additional years.

Not to be forgotten during Sharon’s years in high school was her introduction to the young man of her dreams. His name was Dan Bialas, and they met on the school bus. As the story goes, it was love right from the start, and on January 26, 1973, Sharon married her childhood sweetheart in a small ceremony in front of the Justice of the Peace. Together they welcomed three children including Ryan, Eric, and Lindsay into their hearts and home. What a special treat it was for Sharon with the birth of Lindsay as she finally became the mother of a girl! As mothers go she was second to none as she was an active part of her children’s lives. Sharon was there to not only love and support her children, but also to get them where they needed to go and to cheer them on in everything they did. Over the years, the Bialas family just loved being together, and some of their fondest memories were made on vacations to Lake Michigan. Sharon was known for her quick wit, and it was her quick wit that let her family and friends know that they were deeply loved. For example, she regularly told Dan to “shut up,” but it was really just her fun-loving way of letting him know that he was deeply loved. In Sharon’s home, there was always plenty of laughter and smiles. Later in life she loved being actively involved in the lives of her grandchildren, and she was there to support them in all of their events and activities as she had been with her own children as well. Her dog, Angel, was also an important part of Sharon’s life.

In addition to caring for her family, Sharon kept busy in other things that enriched her life’s journey. For years she worked as a receptionist at hair salons, which was a great fit since she loved all the girls and the gossip that was a part of daily life there. This was also a great line of work for her since she paid special attention to always looking her best with keeping up with the latest fashion in clothing while also having a super cute hairstyle, polished nails, and just the right shade of lipstick. Sharon retired in February of 2015, which gave her more time for some of the other things she loved such as gardening, floating around in their pool, and going out with her friends for her girls’ night out!

When reflecting on the life of Sharon Bialas, words such as organized, hospitable, and fun-loving come to mind, but perhaps the word that paints to most accurate picture of who she was is genuine. She was always smiling and had a contagious laughter, which drew others near with ease. Sharon deeply loved her family and always gave the best advice with a heart that was as big as they come. A loving wife, devoted mother, and doting grandmother, she will never be forgotten.

Sharon Lee Bialas died on January 10, 2016. Sharon’s family includes her husband, Dan “Danny;” three successful children, Eric (Raquel), Ryan (Angie), and Lindsay Bialas; three grandchildren, Payton, Brendon and Karissa; sister, Holly (Dave) Ervin; Sandra (Gordon) Frederick, Mary (Butch) Kruse, Kevin Bialas, and Bob (Joanne) Bialas. Sharon was preceded in death by her parents, Bob & Vera Barnett, Dan & Virginia Bialas, and Kirk Bialas. A special thanks to all of Sharon's friend's especially Sharon Nelson for their love and support. Visit with her family on Friday January 22, 2016, from 4:00-7:00 p.m. at Life Story Funeral Homes, 409 S. Main Street, Vicksburg (269-649-1697) where a memorial service will be held on Saturday January 23rd at 11:00 a.m. Visit Sharon’s memory page at www.lifestorynet.com where you can sign her guestbook and leave a memory for the family. Memorial donations in Sharon’s memory can be made to Reverence Home Health & Hospice.