Sharon Lee Hamel

Sharon Lee Hamel, 80 of Gaylord, passed away Wednesday, May 10, 2023, at Munson Otsego Memorial Hospital in Gaylord.

Born in Detroit, Michigan on May 17, 1942, Sharon was the daughter of Arnold and Phyllis (Braden) Faber.  After a few years in Detroit, her family moved to Roseville where Sharon graduated from Roseville High School in 1960.  After graduating, Sharon was a baton twirling teacher for Roseville Public Schools.

In her youth, Sharon met Keith R. Hamel, who lived in their neighborhood and was their paperboy.  They dated a bit as kids, then again after high school.  On November 12, 1966, they were married in Warren, Michigan. 

They lived in Detroit and Warren for a while before buying their first home in Roseville in 1970.  Keith’s work brought about a couple of moves through the years, to Omaha, Nebraska and Plainfield, Illinois.  Sharon and Keith cared for her dad in their Illinois home for several years, later fulfilling a promise to bring him home to Gaylord for the end of his life.  Since then, and after Sharon’s dad died in 2003, they have made Gaylord their home.

Over the years, Sharon worked as a teletype operator at Reynolds Aluminum and as a customer service representative at Younker’s Department Stores.  In her spare time, she enjoyed pursuing her love of painting, designing homemade greeting cards, and other craft work of all types.  She also enjoyed gardening.  Sharon was a member of Gaylord First United Methodist Church, its Faith Circle and United Methodist Women, of which she was also president for four years.

Sharon is survived by Keith, her husband of almost 57 years; their son, Arnold and his wife, Gianna Hamel of Omaha, NB; and a grandson, Angelo Hamel.  She was preceded in death by her parents, Arnold and Phyllis Faber.

Funeral services will be held at 1:00 PM Tuesday, May 16, 2023, at Gaylord Community Funeral Home & Cremation Service, where visitation will begin at 11:00 AM.  A private family committal service will follow at Otsego Lake Township Cemetery.  Those who wish are asked to consider memorial contributions to the Otsego County Animal Shelter.

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