Obituary of Penny Suzanne SHARP

Penny, beloved mother and grandmother passed away peacefully on Monday March 30, 2015. Growing up, Penny spent her early years in the Lower Mainland before moving to Calgary. After a few years in the city, her parents bought a farm in the Red Deer Lake area, after which Mom promptly bought 12 horses at the Calgary Horse Sale. Penny loved animals, and they seemed to sense something in her, as they loved her as well. During her teen years, she became very involved in the business of breeding Appaloosas, with pride she would say, “With great colour!” Challenging gender barriers, Penny was the first female student at BCIT’s Chemical and Metallurgical Technology program. Where she met Bob Sharp, and then promptly decided that metal sciences wasn’t the path for her, choosing instead to get married in October 1967 and settle down. After 13 years of moving from one mining town to another, just before James was born, Penny decided to move to BC and pursue agriculture as a career. Know for her tenacious attitude, now as a single mom with three little ones in tow, she made another career change attending the University of Alberta for four years to become a Nurse. Her nursing career was an adventurous one working in Comox, Bella Bella, Tatla Lake and The Fraser Valley. In retirement, Penny was living her dream as a snowbird, and found her joy in Mesa, Arizona carving with friends at Venture Out. Summers were active and busy in Bliss Landing, taming the rainforest with endless hours of gardening while her prawn traps caught dinner in the bay. Penny lived life on her terms, and never hesitated to make her opinions heard. She challenged gender barriers, always defended the under dog, and thrived on travel and adventure. She always worried about what would be, but rarely let her worries hold her back. Even in her final days when chemo and cancer were taking their toll, Penny was determined to take one last trip. A Caribbean Cruise, something that was on her bucket list for many years, it wasn’t easy, but as always nothing would hold her back. Penny will be dearly missed by her children, Kim (Dwayne), Chris (Lyle) and James (Casey); grandchildren, Korey, Chad, Taylor, Hailey, and Willow, her two cats Sky and Pud as well as many friends and extended family Always in our thoughts, Mom you will be dearly missed. Please forward condolences through www.calgarycrematorium.com