Sharon M. (O’Connell) Wainger, 73, of Medway died peacefully Thursday, January 18, 2024 at the Brigham and Women’s Faulkner Hospital in Jamaica Plain. She was the beloved wife of Jeffrey Wainger for the past 51 years.
Born in Pawtucket, Rhode Island on February 27, 1950, she was the daughter of the late Walter and Beatrice (Short) O’Connell.
Sharon was a resident of Medway for the past six years and formerly resided in Seekonk for many years.
Sharon grew up in Pawtucket and graduated from Shea High School. She earned her Bachelor’s Degree from the University of Rhode Island and her Master’s Degree in Education from Rhode Island College.
Before her retirement, she worked as a reading specialist at St. Rocco School in Johnston, Rhode Island.
Sharon enjoyed tap dancing and painting. She also volunteered at area hospitals providing reflexology for cancer patients for several years. Sharon was a caring mother and grandmother who loved spending time with her family, often using her reflexology skills to lend a calming hand.
Besides her husband, she is survived by her son Stephen Wainger of San Diego, California, her daughter Jennifer Barrett and her husband Nicholas of Medway and two grandchildren, Maxwell and Russell Barrett.
She is also survived by her sister Susan Bowers and her husband Jon of Attleboro.
Relatives and friends are invited to attend her funeral Mass on Tuesday, January 23 at St. Joseph Church, 151 Village Street in Medway at 11 a.m. Burial will follow at Mt. St. Mary Cemetery, 661 Prospect Street in Pawtucket, Rhode Island on Tuesday at 1 p.m.
Calling hours will be held on Monday, January 22 from 4 - 7 p.m. in the Ginley Crowley Funeral Home, 3 Barber Street in Medway (ginleyfuneralhomes.com).
In lieu of flowers, expressions of sympathy may be made in Sharon’s memory to The Children’s Literacy Initiative, 990 Spring Garden St., Suite 400, Philadelphia, PA 19123 (cli.org).