Sharon Ormsby
April 7, 1941 – February 8, 2024
St Paul, MN, USA
A Kind and Loving Person
Sharon Anne (Keefe) Ormsby was born on April 7th, 1941 in Caledonia, MN. Sharon passed away on February 8th, 2024 in St. Paul, MN after a prolonged decline in health. She was 82.
Sharon grew up on a farm outside Caledonia, MN. After graduating high school, Sharon pursued her nursing degree at St. Theresa’s College in Winona, MN, where she met the love of her life, Victor. After graduation, Victor and Sharon married in 1965 in Caledonia and started a family as they continued their education while raising their two children.
After graduating with a Masters in Nursing, Sharon worked as a nurse, reaching the position of Director of Nursing at Methodist Hospital, which is now part of the Mayo Hospital system in Rochester, MN. After retiring, Sharon continued her life of caregiving by working for St. Anne’s Healthcare in Winona, MN and teaching a nursing assistant certification course. Sharon was also an active volunteer and financial supporter of many organizations in Winona including the Advocacy Center of Winona (Women’s Resource Center), the Catholic Worker House, and the Dorothy Day House.
Sharon is survived by her son Peter (Jill) Ormsby, daughter Rebecca (Michael) Charles, grandchildren Alexander (Meghan) Ormsby, Andrew Ormsby, Samuel Charles, Nathaniel Charles, Matthew Ormsby, and many friends and extended family members. Sharon was preceded in death by her husband Vic Ormsby, her parents F. Lloyd and Vernice Keefe, and her siblings F. Donald Keefe, David Keefe, Sister Patricia Keefe, and Reverend Joseph Keefe.
Community was important to Sharon and she was a part of many. The Wiscoy community, where she lived for many years, as well as her faith community and her communities of friends were what made her happy. Book club, paddle club, Winona Film Society, and other organizations were all important communities for Sharon.
Sharon had such a positive approach to life, enjoyed the outdoors, and was a true steward of the environment. She enjoyed the fruits of her organic garden, making delicious pickles, jams, and tomato sauces with the abundant produce. She was also a kayaker into her 70’s, although she enjoyed the socializing in the paddle club more than the actual paddling. Sharon’s favorite pastime, at least later in life, was to take long walks and explore the surroundings. Those that have had an opportunity to walk with Sharon would probably agree that she was not easy to keep up with.
To say Sharon was a kind and loving human being would be an understatement, as she proved through countless interactions. She knew how to make each person feel accepted and valued. Those who knew Sharon know that she was rarely without a smile, and a hug or squeeze of the hand was always there to let you know you mattered. Sharon is greatly missed and will be remembered for her intelligence, compassion, kindness and grace.