Passing: Sharon Hammel

Posted April 3, 2011 at 10:47 pm by

Sharon Hammel

It was terrible news to wake up to – that Sharon Hammel had passed away in a fire at her house early Sunday morning. You knew Sharon – she worked for the Town and was responsible for making us look so good – the flowers she watered all spring & summer, the plants, the greenspaces. If you knew her better, you knew she was an amazing cook/chef, an involved volunteer for countless activities around the island, the best of good friends to the many people she knew, and the most devoted mom you’d ever want to meet.

The community has rallied around her 15-year-old son Taylor, and is surrounding him with love. But we’ll miss her ready, knowing smile, her incredible energy, and the way whatever she worked on, always came out better under her touch.

I’ve known her for most of the little-over-a-decade she’s lived here, and I can’t believe she’s gone. There’s a big missing piece on the island this morning; Sharon, you’re much missed.

As more information becomes available, I’ll post it.

A donation account has been set up for Taylor Hammel at Whidbey Island Bank.

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Categories: Around Here
6 comments:

6 comments...

  1. Ian, thanks for posting a great photo of our smiling Sharon.

    Comment by Barb Jensen on April 4, 2011 at 9:46 am
  2. I will miss my friend Sharon her smile was infectious and her spontaneous humor was much appreciated. Sharon visited me through my window at work on Friday. Sharon tapped on the window, did a fun little TGIF happy dance-wave and we both laughed. I love and appreciate we had that moment which I will charish always. A big hug to Taylor and family.

    Comment by Brenna Woods on April 4, 2011 at 12:56 pm
  3. It seems that Sharon always had a smile on her face. I know she was a hard worker. Sharron did most, if not all, of the cooking for this year’s Lacrosse spaghetti dinner. She was a terrible softball player, but so was I…at least she was out there. I believe the beautiful hanging flowers you see around the town were created by her. Thanks Sharron…you will be missed. Please keep Taylor in your prayers.

    Comment by Jamie Justiniano on April 4, 2011 at 1:41 pm
  4. Sharon was a best friend of mine when we lived in St. Thomas, US Virgin Islands. I remember her exactly as the article is written. I count my blessing that, just a few years ago, Sharon visited the Island with her beautiful son, Taylor. We got to laugh over some of the best times we had together. My she rest in peace. Taylor, you will always know that your mother was loved by everyone her life touched. Will miss you forever, my good friend, Sharon.

    Comment by Ginny Willis on April 19, 2011 at 4:02 pm
  5. SHE WILL ALWAYS BE MISSED IN MORE WAYS THAN anyone COULD DESCRIBE. with hope we shall understand……something, someday. BUT UNTIL THEN…FLOWERS,LOVE,& HOPE is what she might have wanted us to remember.
    To taylor, We all wish you could of reached out to one of us, it might have helped.. you, her, & us. her island family. miss ya sweetheart!!!!!!!

    Comment by tori on May 4, 2011 at 10:32 pm
  6. I’m finding this sad news about my friend Sharon in 2022. I met Sharon in Seattle at a Grateful Dead concert. We met up the next day for the second show, and became good friends. I never got up to Seattle much, but we’d chat on the phone. I think of her often. And visited her and Taylor on San Juan Island in the fall of 2008. We were concert buds. If not off to the Gorge, then she would drive down to Portland. I’m broken hearted at this news. It had been so long since we’ve been in touch. Now I know why. Though you are many moons gone Sharon, your kindness already tells me where you dwell. By now Taylor is pushing 30 and wouldn’t remember me. I hope he’s doing well. God bless them both. Tears..

    Comment by Thomas on February 13, 2022 at 8:45 am

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