Gifts & Memorial Donations
Sharon Paradise, 70, Williamsburg, VA, passed away on July 15, 2023 following her valiant five-year fight with cancer. She is survived by her husband of 49 years, Alfred A. “Chip” Paradise, Jr, her daughters, Lauren Paradise of Chicago, IL and Allison Paradise of Virginia Beach, VA, her granddaughter, Kenley Paradise Porter, her sister Jean Steinbacher, and her brothers, Galen Menne [Carolyn], Marvin Menne [Sherry], and Gary Menne [Nancy]. Sharon was preceded in death by her father Russell Menne, her mother Florence Menne and her brother Kenneth Menne.
Sharon was born on March 13, 1953 in Williamsport, PA, and graduated from Williamsport Area High School in 1971. In 1972, Sharon and Chip met at Penn State University in State College, PA and were married on July 27, 1974. Sharon and Chip settled in Northern Virginia shortly after their marriage and spent 40 years in the Herndon/Reston area raising their two daughters.
Sharon spent over 25 years working as a school administrator for Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) and was a beloved presence at Franklin Middle School and Chantilly Academy during those years. While she enjoyed her work with FCPS, Sharon’s primary passions were shopping, thrifting, cooking, gardening and the decorative arts. She was a skilled interior designer, artist, and crafter and her artistic eye is evidenced in and around her home. Sharon was a champion shopper with a keen ability to find a good deal and secure just the right items to pull an outfit or a room together.
In 2014, Sharon retired to Williamsburg, VA, settling into a new life in Colonial Heritage where she was delighted to meet her new neighbors and dive right into the community, getting involved in and ultimately serving as Social Chair for several years. Her impact was felt immediately, and with her outgoing personality and her love of a good party or a rousing board or card game, she immediately cultivated a strong group of friends who buoyed her spirit and kept her laughing. Her favorite community activity to plan was the regular trivia night. Her skill at crafting questions and being an engaging emcee was well-known both inside and outside Colonial Heritage.
In addition to her involvement in the community, Sharon’s main joy in life was spending time with family and friends. She cherished her time with Chip, her two girls, and her granddaughter and loved sharing her favorite pastimes with them. Activities such as creating an annual Christmas craft, playing a game of Mexican Train or Bananagrams, and regular visits to the local thrift stores brought treasured memories to her family.
A Celebration of Life will be held on August 19th at 1:00 PM at the Colonial Heritage Clubhouse, 6500 Arthur Hills Drive, Williamsburg, VA. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the National Ovarian Cancer Coalition, the Foundation for Women’s Cancer, or Children’s Hospital of the King’s Daughters (CKHD).
Celebration of Life
1:00 PM
Colonial Heritage Clubhouse - Directions
Chip & Sharon: their younger years together