Sharon Marie Freedman, 67, long life resident of South Jersey and current resident of St. Joseph, MI, passed away suddenly on Monday afternoon, July 20, 2020 at Memorial Hospital in South Bend, IN.

She was born on June 23, 1953 in Collingswood, NJ, to Eugene C. and Mary Lou Palmer. On October 4, 1980 in Blackwood, NJ, Sharon married Frank J. Freedman, who survives. In addition to her husband of nearly 40 years, Sharon is survived by her daughters, Gina (Joseph) Freedman-Gentlesk of Philadelphia, PA; Chelsea (Andrew) Stein of Media, PA; and Nicole Freedman of Philadelphia, PA; grandson, Graham Leif Stein; mother, Mary Lou Palmer of Collingswood, NJ; sisters, Cheryl Grabowski of Gulf Port, MS, and Pamela Lotan of Pennsauken, NJ; and brothers, Eugene C. (Chick) Palmer, Jr. of Tampa, FL, and Dr. Shane (Wanda) Palmer of Austin, TX. Sharon was preceded in death by her father, Eugene Palmer; maternal grandparents, John E. and Gladys Knecht; sister, Jill Ann Pocyntyluk; and brother, Brett Palmer.

Sharon was a wonderful hostess--always cooking food, entertaining, baking, and decorating for her family and friends. Christmas was her favorite holiday - she was like a child on Christmas morning every year. Thanksgiving was a close second, embracing all of the family traditions. Her pumpkin pie was amazing, and her creamed onions and cranberry jelly were legendary. She was a skilled dancer with training in ballet, jazz, and modern dance. She taught at various studios in the Cherry Hill, NJ area and loved sharing her dance skills with her students. In her youth, she was a competitive swimmer and competed in the Junior Olympics. Sharon owned and operated the beloved Italian restaurant, Bella Luna Café, in Sewell, NJ, for 10 years with her husband. Sharon loved to travel, from England and Italy, to Belgium, California, Hawaii and Las Vegas - she made friends everywhere she went. She was the life of the party and had a beautiful energy that people gravitated to. Her favorite place in the world was spending summertime on the beach with her family in Ocean City, NJ. Above all, she loved her family and children dearly. Her children were the center of her world - there was nothing she wouldn't do for her girls. Sharon was stunningly beautiful inside and out. She will be forever terribly missed and loved, but her legacy will live on in the love of her children and grandchildren.

The world lost a beautiful soul, but heaven has gained an angel.

There will be a visitation from 6 to 8pm Wednesday eve at GARDNER FUNERAL HOME, RUNNEMEDE.

Memorial Mass 11am Thursday at Our Lady of Hope Parish, St. Agnes RC Church, 701 Little Gloucester Road, Blackwood, NJ 08012.

Contributions in memory of Sharon may be donated to: the ASPCA, 424 E. 92nd St., New York, NY 10128-6804 or to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105.

Services