Sharon Lynne Mahon

It is with great sadness and unfathomable love that we announce the passing of Sharon Lynne Mahon, RN (Kyle) on January 12, 2023. Sharon passed peacefully at home with her husband and soulmate Dennis by her side. Their enduring love affair lasted over 55 years and their lives will be forever entwined.

Sharon was born in Regina, Saskatchewan on November 1, 1947 to Jack (decd.) and Shirley(dec’d.) Kyle.  She was the rose in between three brothers, Gary (Gary-Wayne, Troy and Stacey), Jim(dec’d) and David (Nancy and daughter Sarah, dec’d), and her parents adored her.  She was as kind as she was beautiful.  Sharon recognized her compassion for others and desire to help and enrolled at Nursing College to attain her Registered Nursing degree.  It was during college that she met the love of her life, Dennis. He was completing his Mountie training and was swept off his feet by her ravishing beauty and grace. Sharon followed Dennis to Victoria where she lived out the rest of her life surrounded by the beauty of the Saanich Peninsula.

Sharon is survived by her three children; Kelly (Piper), Scott (Catherine) and Jennifer (Kevin), and Joe (the cat).  Her grandchildren were cherished and doted upon by her.  Jesse and Becca (Kelly), Madison and Samantha (Scott) and Mikaela and Ben (Jen) all embody Sharon’s charm, perseverance and generosity.  Some of Sharon’s fondest memories included camping with Mikaela, Ben, Jesse and Becca at Beachcomber RV park and taking the grandkids sailing and fishing.

Mom was famous for her dinner parties and Christmas preparations.  Every year, much to her children’s delight, she would bake delicious goodies and make an exquisite gingerbread church.  Sharon adapted from a landlocked Saskatchewan childhood to an adult life lived on and in the ocean.  She was an artist, certified scuba diver, avid fisherwoman, camper, hiker and master sailor.  Sharon and Dennis sailed their boat Massapequa around Vancouver Island twice including up to Haida Gwaii.  Through it all they were accompanied by best friends Dave (decd.) and Gail Thornley.  Skip (dec’d) and Sharon Sansburry, Pat and Ros Shera were also a part of the crew that helped enrich their lives, as well as many others.  Their journeys held many adventures and laughs and she was forever grateful for their friendship.

Hawaii was her other favorite destination.  Sharon and Dennis embarked on joyous vacations in Waikiki.  They dove on WW2 wrecks, sailed with Yacht Club members and frolicked with sea turtles (her totem animal).

Sharon worked as a Registered Nurse at Saanich Peninsula Hospital for 23 years while raising her children and supporting Dennis in his work for VicPD.

Mom journeyed through life with selfless compassion, determination, wisdom and grace.  Her children are eternally grateful that they had the chance to be raised by such a remarkable woman and carry her lessons and love with them everyday.  Dennis has lost his partner, soulmate, confidant and angel.  Although his heart aches, it is filled with her endless love and the knowledge that she will watch over him as he continues his journey and eventually rejoins her, to be reunited forever.

The Mahon family would like to thank the palliative care nurses and team (Vanessa and Lisa and others), and home care workers for their exceptional devotion to Mom.  Words cannot express the gratitude for the work of the Saanich Peninsula Hospital and Dr. A. Marsh and Dr. J. Becket in keeping her comfortable and still able to enjoy life to the end.

In lieu of flowers, please consider contributing to the Saanich Peninsula Hospital Foundation or the MS society.  A family and friends memorial will be held on a sunny day in June by the beach she loved and camped at with her family for the last 20 years.  If you have a moment please read the poem “I Am Standing Upon the Seashore ” by Henry Van Dyke, and remember Sharon fondly. “Don’t be sad that it is over, smile that it happened.”

I Am Standing Upon The Seashore.

I am standing upon the seashore. A ship, at my side,

spreads her white sails to the moving breeze and starts

for the blue ocean. She is an object of beauty and strength.

I stand and watch her until, at length, she hangs like a speck

of white cloud just where the sea and sky come to mingle with each other.

Then, someone at my side says, “There, she is gone”

Gone where?

Gone from my sight. That is all. She is just as large in mast,

hull and spar as she was when she left my side.

And, she is just as able to bear her load of living freight to her destined port.

Her diminished size is in me — not in her.

And, just at the moment when someone says, “There, she is gone,”

there are other eyes watching her coming, and other voices

ready to take up the glad shout, “Here she comes!”

                                                                                                                by Henry Van Dyke

Condolences may be offered to the family below.

McCall Gardens
www.mccallgardens.com