Sharon Rose Dunlop

April 11, 1951 ~ June 16, 2023
Born in:
Toronto, Ontario
Resided in:
Hendersonville, North Carolina
Sharon Rose Dunlop, 72, went to be with the Lord unexpectedly on Friday, 16 June 2023 at her home in Hendersonville, North Carolina.
The oldest of three, Sharon was born on 11 April 1951 to Helen (neé Mossey) and Joseph Gelleny in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Her father was a builder and veteran of the Canadian Army and British Special Operations Executive (SOE); he developed the first planned residential community in Canada. Her mother worked at the British Embassy in Washington D.C. during World War II. After graduating from King City High School in King City, Ontario, Sharon attended the University of Waterloo, majoring in Urban and Regional Development. She worked for the City of London, Ontario for a year after marrying the love of her life, constant companion, and partner in everything, Donald Graham Dunlop.
At the age of 20, Sharon developed rheumatoid arthritis, a disease that quickly crippled her joints, but never crippled her. Though she could no longer play the piano, water ski, or dance, she raised five adoring children who are heartbroken over the loss of their mother. Sharon and Donald moved from Canada to Naples, Florida in 1980 with their first two children, then from Naples to the mountains of North Carolina in 1994 with five children in tow. Despite her physical limitations, Sharon was extremely active in her children’s school and extracurricular activities as well as her church; she was a longtime member of Arden Presbyterian Church and her strong Christian faith was incredibly important and comforting to her and her family. She also designed almost all the houses her husband built over the course of his 40-year career and served as his office manager. Outside of her many family commitments, Sharon loved British mystery and lifestyle shows, designed and drafted house plans, was an avid baker and reader, and loved nothing more than visiting her family throughout the United States and Canada.
Sharon was predeceased by her parents, Helen and Joseph Gelleny.
She is survived by her ever-loving and devoted husband of 49 years, Donald Graham Dunlop; her children James Donald Dunlop and his partner James Carroll, Jeffrey Graham Dunlop and his wife Melissa, Ryan McIntosh Dunlop and his wife Erin, Emily Rose DiPietro and her husband Nicholas, and Elisabeth (Libby) Anne Breazeale and her husband Noah; her grandchildren, Graham Dunlop, Carson Dunlop, Claire Dunlop, Hadley Dunlop, Samuel Dunlop, Lachlan Dunlop, Wyatt DiPietro, Wylie Dunlop, Rosie DiPietro, Townes DiPietro, and Lilly Breazeale; her brothers, Lorne Gelleny and James Gelleny; her aunt and uncle, Emily and Victor Smider; her mother-in-law, Marian Claire Dunlop; and many cousins, nieces, and nephews in Canada and the United States.
Family and friends are welcome to attend a visitation with the family on Saturday, 24 June 2023 at 1 p.m at Arden Presbyterian Church in Arden, North Carolina. A memorial service will follow at 2 p.m. Sharon had mentioned previously that she would prefer those in attendance not wear black – she wanted her vibrant life to be celebrated in color. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Mountain Area Pregnancy Services (MAPS) (www.mtnpregnancy.com).
Groce Funeral Home’s Lake Julian team is assisting the family.
Services
Memorial Service: June 24, 2023 2:00 pm
Arden Presbyterian Church
2215 Hendersonville Road
Arden, NC 28704
(828)684-7221
Visitation: June 24, 2023 1:00 pm - 2:00 pm
Arden Presbyterian Church
2215 Hendersonville Road
Arden, NC 28704
(828)684-7221
Funeral Home Assisting The Family:
Groce Funeral Home at Lake Julian
72 Long Shoals Road
Arden, NC 28704
(828)687-3530
http://www.grocefuneralhome.com
Such a little lady has left such a huge vacancy. Never has there been a more gracious, loving, kind, christian woman. I will miss Sharon’s dependable word of encouragement. She was such a prayer warrior. It makes me smile to think of her dancing around the streets of gold.
O so well said, Fellow Student of Sharon! May all of Sharon’s students smile from ear to ear in rejoicing for HER! May our smiles reach from Mississippi to New York City to ALL of Canada and in between and beyond! And STILL Sharon’s smile would be wider!!!
I would like to express my sincere condolences to you during this difficult time and my thoughts are with you.
Andreas Weber
I was Sharon’s Sunday School Teacher for over a decade. But I was her teacher in name only for in reality, Sharon was the teacher and I, along with the rest of the class, was her student! She taught all of us kindness and gentleness and graciousness and what Faith and Trust in God was truly all about. We studied the Bible and practiced God’s Truths the best we knew, but Sharon LIVED in them!! Raise your arms and hands HIGH, Dear Sharon! Raise your arms and hands HIGH in worshipping your Lord, your Savior, your Very God of Very God, JESUS CHRIST! He WILL SEE your arms and hands reaching for the eternal sky in praise and honor of Him! Well done, good and faithful Sharon, enter into the Joy of your Lord! O how we all loved thee, Sharon. O HOW WE ALL LOVED THEE!
Over the years of knowing Sharon I could use many positive words to describe her. I will pick one- indomitable! Most everything about her falls under that descriptive word. She has always had an unstoppable spirit which served her well. I will certainly remember Sharon as smiling and engaging… a fun person to be around… a friend… a bright light… a powerful prayer warrior and a child of God who knew Jesus well and trusted Him every day and in every situation! Knowing Sharon has always been a wonderful blessing!
Sending love to Don and family,
Gary and I are so happy to have been able to spend a special time with you both!
I can see Sharon kicking her heals up in Heaven with no pain!
Sharon was so sweet and beautiful! So strong in the Lord that was a witness to all. We will miss her dearly but will see her again!
We love you and will keep her memories in our hearts!
Goodbye dear Sharon. It was nice meeting you. Your sweet and gentle spirit will be remembered.
My condolences to the Gelleny family. Sharon was in my class at King City Secondary School. She sat beside me in the KCSS band. We both attended the University of Waterloo. She was a success in many areas and she will be remembered by many.