Annette Sharpe

Annette Sharpe was born June 12, 1927 in New York City. That was the same year that Charles Lindberg completed the first solo flight across the Atlantic. It was also the year that the era of silent films ended when “The Jazz Singer” was released. She died October 6th, 2016 at the age of 89. This is an era in which we are contemplating manned space flights to Mars and using artificial intelligence in our homes. Annette lived in New York with her mother, father, and sister. Her father was exposed to mustard gas during World War I limiting him to running a newspaper stand. They moved to California when she was 18 so that her mother could live in a healthier climate. In one of her first jobs, Annette took dictation for her boss at a liquor company. She hadn't been taught how to take dictation but became good at it because she took what her boss said and worded it in a professional manner that got results. He wanted to date her but she didn’t have any interest in him. When she left the company they had to hire two people to take her place. She was smart, efficient and effective. She had an affinity for mathematics, a skill not encouraged by women in society at the time. Annette met her future husband Eugene when she was 23. They only needed three months before deciding they were meant for each other. Eugene had an established business and was ready to settle down. Because they each had much older siblings and felt like they were raised as only children, they wanted a big family, eventually having four children. After raising their children for 25 years, they were able to share some empty nest time by enjoying world travel before Eugene passed away in 1980. Annette was greatly saddened that forces beyond her control took Eugene. She tried to find new love but was disappointed as the men she encountered were looking for a nurse, a purse, or both. She decided to abandon her search for another man to share her life with and focused on traveling the world, something Eugene had very little time to enjoy. She vowed to have great adventures in her life. Annette traveled to almost every country keeping files on each trip with detailed notes and photos. She shared the experiences with four her children each time she returned home. Annette took over her husband’s business and made it thrive at a time when it was uncommon for women to run a business. She was very proud of herself and repeated the story of how Art Minky, their accountant, had urged her to sell the business when Eugene died. She declined his recommendation and expanded the business to even greater profitability. She would put all four kids on the parts counter at Cal Sales and customers would talk to, entertain and play with them while she got their parts. Some customers stayed long after they concluded their transactions. Mothers admonished her for exposing her children to germs. While she was displeased by their judgment she knew better. She sold her appliance parts supply company, Cal Sales, in mid 1990. Annette expanded her social network after Eugene died. She joined a group for every interest she had. She belonged to a movie group, a book group, an educational group, and her Footloose-walking group. She kept herself busy and her mind active. She was a meticulously organized planner and always had a calendar full of activities. She went on elder hostel trips with friends and family. Her grandchildren Jacob and Samy greatly enjoyed these times with her. The extended family began going to Montecito Sequoia family camp in the Sequoia National Forest on a yearly basis. Everyone loved this and each family member had something to do. Montecito Sequoia is still a special place for Samy, her grandaughter, as camper and counselor! Many people found it easy to talk to Annette about their troubles, because she was a good listener. She was born in a time when people didn't express their feelings easily, but she worked hard to overcome this. It was important to her that each of her children felt equally loved. She gave attention to her children and spent time with each in different ways. She enjoyed being a grandmother and gave freely of her attention and time to her grandchildren. Annette was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s type dementia in 2008. The extended family went on one last family trip to a Santa Barbara family camp in 2009. Annette lived in her apartment for two years after she was diagnosed. In 2010, her children assisted her move to Summerhill Assisted Living in Santa Clarita, 10 minutes from where her daughters, Nancy and Valerie live. She enjoyed being taken on daily walks by family or the gals Lori and Debbie. We began to affectionately refer to these two as “the Walkers” or the Mom Walkers. Annette squeezed every minute of enjoyment from life. In the hospital the day before she died she insisted on getting out of bed and walking, as was her usual routine. She wasn't quite up to walking once she got out of bed but enjoyed the sunshine and view from her window. She died knowing that she was loved, hearing it from her children at her bedside and responded in kind with, “I love you, too.”