Sharon Derose

Sharon DeRose, 62, passed away on October 4, 2010 at Center for Hope Hospice in Scotch Plains, NJ. Born in Mount Vernon, NY to Abraham and Esther Rothman, Sharon spent her childhood in Mount Vernon and New Rochelle, NY. Married in 1972, Sharon and her husband Bob resided in New York and Massachusetts before finally settling in Westfield, NJ in 1985. Sharon embraced Westfield as her home and there raised two loving sons. A caring and empathetic person, Sharon could make a connection with anyone she met. She always had a soft spot for animals, adopting five beloved dogs over the years. Diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer in 1988, Sharon fought bravely for 22 years while bringing love and inspiration to her family and friends. Early in her recovery, Sharon began volunteering her time at The American Cancer Society Discovery Shop in Westfield, raising her own spirits and bringing hope to other cancer survivors. In the past decade, Sharon enjoyed traveling to California and Maine with her husband, but always most enjoyed being at home with her family and friends. Sharon is survived by her husband Bob and her son Gregory of Westfield, her son Philip of Trenton and her sister and brother-in-law Harriet and Martin Berkowitz of Boston, MA. Relatives and friends are invited to join the family in remembrance at Gray Funeral Home, 318 East Broad St. Westfield, NJ 07090 on Saturday, October 9 from 2-4 p.m. with a memorial service at 3:30 p.m.