Obituary of Sharon Young

Surrounded by loved ones, Sharon Lynne Young passed away on Saturday, June 1, 2024 following a 28 year old battle with breast cancer. Born in Calgary, Alberta on July 8, 1954, she moved to Moosehorn, Manitoba with her parents Alexander (Al) Mihaychuk and Martha (née Kiesman) as a baby.  She started Gr 1 with her dad as Principal at the Gr 1 - 12 Moosehorn School.  Her siblings Susan, Dwight, Holly, Pamela and John were all born at the Ashern Hospital near Moosehorn during their years in the Interlake. The family enjoyed times at nearby Watchorn Beach in the summer months, skating and tobogganing in the winter, playing board games of all descriptions, and living a life of reading books without any TV unless at the Beckers’ on Sunday nights for supper followed by the Ed Sullivan Show and Bonanza.  They attended Peace Lutheran Church, where singing in the Junior Choir was a highlight for Sharon; also learning to sew with the local 4-H Club. 

In 1966, Al’s career took the Mihaychuks  to Rossville in Norway House and Sharon attended the United Church Indian Residential School next door. Life in northern Manitoba was a great adventure where the community was welcoming and Sharon spent countless hours socializing at the residence and participating in the activities there.  One of her best adventures was skipping school one spring day and making the trek around Fort Island (by boat and sometimes pushed on the ice the long way round due to spring break-up) to visit the family’s newest addition, baby James and her mother at the Norway House Hospital. 

In 1968, the family moved to The Pas, Manitoba where Sharon attended Margaret Barbour Collegiate Institute for Grade 9, and played volleyball and basketball as a Spartanette. In 1969, a move to Dauphin followed and Sharon graduated from Dauphin Regional Comprehensive Secondary School as part of their first graduating class in 1972. 

Sharon’s empathy and interest in people led to she and high school friend, Laurie McDill setting their horizons on becoming Registered Psychiatric Nurses at the Brandon Mental Health Centre, graduating with diplomas in 1974. Life in residence solidified friendships along with learning in the classroom, on the wards and at Brandon University. Growing up and growing older together the Class of 74 celebrated 10 reunions, the most recent their 50th scheduled for September 2024. 

Sharon met Ron Young in the fall of 1972 - he stole her heart and they married on July 8, 1978.  Sharon followed Ron’s broomball and hockey, and lifelong friendships grew with Coca-Cola couples with many gatherings over the years. Ron and Sharon got involved with the local racquetball scene in 1979, expanding their social networks even more. People would ask them over the years: ‘Is there anyone in Brandon you don’t know?’ 

Their daughter Lindsey was born in 1984, followed by son, Travis in 1986.  Busy family times followed with summers spent at the cabin at Grey Owl near Clear Lake, following Lindsey and Travis’ sporting activities, spending many years with Lindsey’s Suzuki violin and Travis’ hockey and the many families involved. 

Sharon loved her family and also loved her career as a Psychiatric Nurse and blended family roles with her chosen career in a finely-oiled, sometimes tippy balancing act. Always needing to foster her love of learning, she graduated from Brandon University in 1993 with her Bachelor of Science in Mental Health, receiving the Gold Medal in Psychiatric Nursing.  Sharon also served her profession as a Board Member with the Registered Psychiatric Nurses Association of Manitoba. Sharon’s career spanned 42 years, 19 of which were spent at BMHC, a stint in Portage la Prairie as a Community Mental Health Worker, with the Brandon RHA in Health Promotion (Public Heath) and a return to mental health in the Psychosocial Rehabilitation Program as program manager. 

In 1996, a breast cancer diagnosis sidelined Sharon and the family was faced with a new challenge.  Following several months of active treatment and a year away from work, she picked up the pieces and resumed life as she knew it, but also in a new and different way. As a way of giving back for the wonderful support she’d received, she founded the Waves of Hope Dragon Boat Team in 1998-99 for breast cancer survivors, paddled for a decade and became actively involved in local, provincial and national breast cancer networks. She was honoured by a YMCA Women of Distinction Award for her leadership efforts with community breast cancer supports. In 2008 she joined the Canadian Breast Cancer Network as board member and served as Vice President for many years, retiring in 2024. 

In 2004, hearts were devastated with the loss of their precious Lindsey. With the support of others, the family again pushed forward through this trauma, although life was forever changed. 

Sharon’s love for her friends cannot be understated. A social bug her whole life, she maintained several friendships that were half a century plus.  She and Ron were blessed with many couple friends (a list too long to list) and she had a large circle of girlfriends: the E-team with their gourmet meals and the Coneheads (former workmates, but so much more!) the Hags (going back to early racquetball days) and her Tribe (fellow delightful RPN’s) are only some of the memorable people who she treasured. A good game of cards or board games was never turned down, especially competitive cribbage with friends Brian and Helen Forsyth. She especially loved music and attended dozens of concerts and dramatic performances over the years. She was a fair-weather golfer, an avid walker (especially with Mugsy and Willow) and loved the outdoors and kayaking in the summer months. 

Retirement came to Sharon and Ron in 2018, after she’d been diagnosed with Stage 4 breast cancer in 2016 and with Ron also experiencing health issues.  She and he had enjoyed many travels over the years - several trips to Hawaii, Cuba and Mexico, the Super Bowl in New Orleans, trips across Canada and the US, a Caribbean cruise, family travels and more recently an Alaskan cruise with her Mom  in 2019. Retirement had many benefits but travel beyond Clear Lake or Winnipeg was not in the stars. Time spent at the cabin, also known as Possum Lodge during summer months remained the best, indulging in nature and watching the bustling activity in her butterfly garden with her favourite summer visitors, the hummingbirds. 

Sharon is survived by her husband of 47 years, Ron, their son Travis, her mother Martha Mihaychuk, sister Susan Michaels, brother Dwight Mihaychuk (Diana Traverse) sister Holly LeClair (Didier Kabagema), sister Pamela Hadder, brother John Mihaychuk, and brother James Mihaychuk (Shannon Chen) and many nieces, nephews, cousins and a large extended family. Many dear friends also remain. 

Sharon was predeceased by her daughter, Lindsey, her father Al Mihaychuk, her nephew Ryan Mihaychuk, her in-laws Horace and Ruth Young, and her sister-in-law Darlene Eastcott. 

Sincere appreciation is expressed to the amazing nurses and to Drs DuPloy, Kristjanson, Muller and Hunter at the Western Manitoba Cancer Centre, to Dr Vlok (Brandon Clinic) and to Dr Debjani Grenier at CancerCare Manitoba. Also thank you to the DI and Radiation Therapy staff and to the caring hearts and hands at the Palliative Care Unit at the Brandon Regional Health Centre. 

If desired, donations in Sharon’s memory may be made to CancerCare Manitoba Foundation 675 McDermott Ave #1160, Winnipeg MB R3V 0E9 or to the Brandon Regional Health Centre Foundation 150 McTavish Ave East, Brandon MB R7A 2B3 or to a charity of one’s choice. 

Forever grateful for her imperfectly beautiful life. At the heart are the relationships we foster; long and short, uniquely variable and always memorable.