The Story of Sharon Ann Grainger
as shared with us by her sister Vivian Gail Seniuk

Sharon was born into this world on November 16th, 1952 with a telephone receiver in her mouth, not a sliver spoon. She was good on the outside and rotten to the core. She was a flower child of the sixties.

Her favourite band was the Beatles - Paul was her favourite. Sharon's first car was a Delta 88 Oldsmobile. When she was little one of her favourite toys was a beige teddy bear named Bear. She still has him! When she was little she collected Old Dutch chip boxes and had the whole neighbourhood collecting them for her. She also had a bike she treasured always. When she was small, Sharon (Linus) had her comfy blanket and would scream for it (an early indication of her lung power!).

Sharon's first job was digging ice cream in Winnipeg. Sharon resided in Winnipeg, Kamloops, Vancouver, Santa Monica, Winnipeg, and then back to Vancouver.

Sharon's favourite thing, Brittaney, was born on June 23, 1983 in Vancouver. Sharon loved feeding the birds that would come to visit her balcony. They would sing to her and she would whistle back. Her joys were also the mountains, ocean, beautiful sunsets and occasionally going to the race track, and making arts and crafts with Brittaney. Stranger and Gigi and her constant companion Sunseen the cat were Sharon's favourite pets, friends and playmates. Sunseen stayed by Sharon's side until she left this world.

Halloween was definitely Sharon's favourite holiday. She loved getting the treats ready for all the kids, dressing up with Brittaney and friends going trick or treating.

Sharon attended all Positive Women's Network retreats and was the 'unofficial hostess'. Sharon loved to gather shells and feathers and beach treasures at the retreats - sand dollars were her favourite. She would often arrive early to get the very best before everyone else!

Sharon was not a happy co-pilot. She insisted that she drive or sit in the front seat. Sharon loved to get dressed up with Brittaney and Vivian in their berry pickin' gear and go pick berries behind the 'No Trespassing' sign. Her favourite saying was 'Now what are you doing?!!'

Sharon was often seen collecting tennis balls for her dogs from the tennis court across the street from her apartment. She loved her plants and lovingly raised and cared for slips that were passed on to her by her Mom. Many of these decorate her home today. Her favourite flowers were her potted mums, tuber roses, and her cherished, beautiful African Violets. Her favourite place to get flowers was the St. Paul's Hospital garden. She always brought her own scissors.

Sharon sported brown, black and red hair through the years, and most of us know her and love her as the Fiery Red-Head. Her heart throb actor was Kevin Sorbo from Hercules, and her favourite programs were Hercules, Zena, Alladin, X-Files, Bobby's World and Are You Afraid of the Dark?. The Young and the Restless never did pay Sharon for her story ideas. She ate popcorn with white cheese for company.

A banana a day kept Sharon happy and she loved pizza, chinese food and popsicles.

Sharon's hero was definitely her Mom. She has shared with many of us the story of 'how Mom gave her step by step instructions on how to cook a turkey'. This was while calling her from Santa Monica.

Sharon was hysterical when she won a trip to Florida. To bad she had to buy a time share first!

Sharon was infected with HIV in 1986. Her diagnosis came in 1989. Sharon's beloved sister Vivian remembers it like it was yesterday.

On September 7, 1996, Sharon left this world toward a beautiful journey. We will all remember and miss her crazy sense of humour, her generosity and her love of beautiful things. Sharon was a unique and beautiful spirit who has enriched our lives forever. Until we meet again.

Sharon Ann Grainger on the Memorial

This text is reproduced from the life-celebration tribute. The actual tribute is watermarked in the background.