Sharon Jane Robinson ("Sheri"), aged 77, passed away peacefully on Sunday, March 3, 2024, her devoted son Leslie Robinson by her side. After a long and hard-fought battle, she spent her final days, as she wanted, in the loving home she shared with Leslie, her son-in-law Marc Genesee, step-grandchildren Olivia Genesee and Sienna Genesee, and beloved dog Brooklyn. Sheri was born on March 24, 1946, and quickly adopted by Alvin Alfred and Hazel Ray Champ. Sheri liked to tell the story about how her older brother Dennis walked into a hospital room with three young girls, pointed at her and said, "That one". After losing her father at 2, Sheri was raised by her mother, whom she adored, and her brother Dennis, whom she idolized. She was also raised in a community of cousins. This became the starting point for her life journey. Among her work pursuits, Sheri worked as a model alongside her late husband, William Lerritt Robinson "Bill," in her early years for his clothing line. She was also a secretary at Shell, where she made lifelong friends. Sheri and Bill had two sons, Lerritt Robinson and Leslie Robinson. Her children have fond memories of Sheri's fantastic cooking and baking, and as teenagers, they often had friends come over frequently to indulge in her culinary masterpieces. Sheri had wonderful weekends in the country, summers at Lake Kashawakamak, and ski vacations with her cousins. She also loved to watch cooking shows and would frequently suggest that she could teach the hosts a thing or two! Approximately the year 2000, Sheri was diagnosed with Hereditary Spastic Paraplegia, a rare neurological spinal cord condition. She eventually lost the ability to walk. Despite her challenges, she could travel to Florida and go on many cruises, which she loved to do. One of her favourite trips was to South Africa, which she affectionately called "Jo-Berg." Upon Bill moving into long-term care, Sheri took up residence at Manulife Centre, where she was often treated like a rockstar and was frequently complimented on her sense of style when going about her day on her scooter she affectionately called "Ruby." Her tenacity and resilience never seemed to get in the way, and she continued to travel in later years to Florida, Hawaii, New York, Mexico, and the Bahamas with Leslie, Marc, Olivia and Sienna despite mobility difficulties. Her motto in life was "Use it or lose it." When Covid hit, Sheri took a giant leap and put the Robinson-Genesee clan under one roof. In doing so, she solidified her role as matriarch of the Robinson-Genesee family. This is a role that won't be forgotten. As her disability progressed, so too did the onset of dementia, and she drew closer to Leslie for care and support, which he provided lovingly without reservation. The family will receive friends at the Humphrey Funeral Home A.W. Miles – Newbigging Chapel, 1403 Bayview Avenue (south of Davisville), Toronto, from 10:00 – 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday, March 19th. A funeral service will be held at 11:00 a.m. followed by a reception. Instead of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Hereditary Spastic Paraplegia Foundation (
https://sp-foundation.org/get-involved/donate-here/many-ways-to-donate.html) or to the Toronto Rehabilitation Institute Lyndhurst Centre (
https://www.uhn.ca/OurHospitals/TR_Lyndhurst). Condolences may be forwarded through
www.humphreymiles.com Published by The Globe and Mail from Mar. 9 to Mar. 13, 2024.
