Sharon Y. Gutierrez

It is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of Sharon Y. Gutierrez on September 7th, 2024, at the age of 70. 

Sharon was born to the late Harold and Christene Ellis (Rousey) in Key West, Florida on February 9th, 1954. She was the middle sibling to Diane Sasser, Harold Jonathon Ellis, James (Denise) Ellis, and Robert Ellis. She became a lifelong resident of Joliet, IL where she attended Joliet East High School and Joliet Junior College. 

Sharon dedicated over 45 years to Silver Cross Hospital, where she retired as a Certified Nursing Assistant in the Same-Day Surgery Department. Her compassion and dedication to her patients were evident to all who knew her. 

Sharon met Felipe in Chicago on July 2nd of 1977, when he was bold enough to walk across the restaurant and ask her out. She was bold enough to say yes. They married February 17th of 1979, celebrating their 45th wedding anniversary earlier this year. Together they built a life full of love and laughter and comfort. The depth of their love was never more apparent than in these last several years, as Felipe devotedly cared for Sharon through her ongoing health challenges. He was her “hero” and he more than earned the title. Throughout this experience, their love grew even stronger than ever. 

Sharon’s greatest pride were her three boys, Erik, Gary, and Austin (Violet). She would tell anyone that would listen about their latest accomplishments and refer to them as her “babies” embarrassingly well into adulthood. Sharon would say that she loved whenever her three sons were in a room together, because she would laugh until she was in tears. Her boys would say they got that from her. She did everything for them. Custom homemade Halloween costumes included a Ninja Turtle and a Ghostbuster and a far-too-realistic werewolf for a third grader, among many others. Science Fair boards were pristine. Christmases were extravagant, with presents still being wrapped in the early morning hours. Her love and service to her kids wavered only over a Trivial Pursuit board, where a fiercely competitive spirit took over. Games will take a lot longer to finish without her. She would find a new calling when she became Grandma to Maddie, Ahna, Mia and Sienna. Sharon loved her granddaughters so much, showering them with hugs and kisses and toys. Her family will continue to find presents she bought throughout the year, tucked away and forgotten, for years to come. 

She loved to go fishing near the family cabin in Wisconsin, followed by hours of gin rummy at the kitchen table. She loved music and her taste was universal, she could be heard singing along to country, rock ’n’ roll, Motown, or pop with impeccable lyrical accuracy. She loved animals, especially horses. She would cancel the rest of her day to rescue a lost dog she saw on the street. She loved her own dogs, Yahtzee and Charlie, who will miss their mom dearly. She loved the Wizard of Oz, especially the scene where Dorothy lands in Oz and her world bursts into vibrant color. She loved to drive fast and everywhere. She loved to see a new movie and get movie theater popcorn.

 Most of all she loved her family and friends. She loved to know how you were and what was new. She loved to be a part of your life and for you to be a part of hers. She will be remembered and missed by so many that she touched with her warmth and her love and her genuine desire to know you