Sharon LaForge

Sharon’s Obituary: November 22, 1945 ~ March 15, 2025Sharon left her temporary home here on earth Saturday morning, March 15, 2025, between 2:00 am and 3:00 am, 79 years, 4 months and 7 days after being born right here in Wichita, Kansas at Wesley Hospital to the loving and God-fearing parents, Erus and Saleta Jones. Sharon was a life-long Wichitan, born and raised as a member of the Baptist faith and later converting to the Catholic faith as to align herself with her husband, Frank’s, religion in the Catholic faith. Sharon wore many hats in her nearly 80 years on this planet including wife, mother, and homemaker. She pushed her diseased and ravaged body through many areas that would consume most any mortal being. She gallantly fought off many cancers (breast, bone, and ovarian) which resulted in years and years of weekly chemotherapy. Sharon also fought off Multiple Sclerosis, Scoliosis (curvature of the spine), Osteoporosis (bone disease), and finally a nasty Spindle Cell Carcinoma that wrapped its slimy ‘fingers’ around the pia mater (inner layer) that protects the brain which was the final “coup de grâce” of her ‘NEVER COMPLAINING’ life on earth. The Virgin Mary, mother of Jesus was her life’s companion over these stressful years. And now, there is one more angel in heaven and she is singing along with the chorus in praise of our Lord Jesus Christ, God almighty. She raised our son, Scott LaForge and our daughter, Julie Sanders, teaching them the way of religious life. She kept me mostly on the path of Christian beliefs. She was my beating heart, my soul inspiration, and certainly my best friend. Sharon was a model of the righteousness of our Catholic faith. It was my privilege to devote my days and nights to her care as she lay in our living room for the past 11 months, slowly losing her life battle with the various forms of cancer and all the UGLY results. It was easy for me to adopt the phrase “I get to” not “I have to.” I was honored to serve her in perpetuity. Sharon was an avid gardener and turned this piece of dirt we purchased to build our dream home on into a spectacular garden area envied by many. She was awarded a distinctive honor being named as a ‘Master Gardener’ by the K-State/Sedgwick County Research and Extension Program and later reaching the Emeritus level. She was a part of the original Arts and Environments committee at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Church making many sculptures to display plants and other items to enhance the religious experience. She was also a eucharistic minister, and a ‘Servants’ choir member, while wearing many other volunteer hats at both St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Church and a multitude of other civic activities around the city including the Master Gardener Hotline for the Sedgwick County Extension Program. In addition to her many friends, Sharon leaves behind her grieving family members, husband, Frank LaForge; son, Scott (Sheri) LaForge; daughter, Julie (Jeff) Sanders; grandchildren, Jessica LaForge, Erica LaForge, Justin LaForge, Elana LaForge, Mercedes Sanders, Mason Sanders; and brother, Charles Jones. She is preceded in death by her parents, Erus and Saleta Jones; parents-in-law, John and Julia LaForge. Rosary will be at 7:00 pm, Friday, March 21, 2025. Funeral Mass will be at 10:00 am, Saturday, March 22, 2025, both at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Church. Memorials have been established with: St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Church, 645 N. 119th St. W., Wichita, KS 67235 and Extension Education Foundation, Inc. - Master Gardeners, 7001 N 21st Street W, Wichita, KS 67205. Services in care of Downing & Lahey Mortuary - West Chapel.