Sharon Nicole Paschke

Sharon Nicole Paschke, 52, of Oak Park, Illinois, passed away on Wednesday July 26th, after a short but difficult battle with cancer. Sharon was born on April 23, 1971 to Ed and Nancy Paschke in St. Louis, Missouri, but her heart was always in Chicago where she spent her life as a great supporter of the city. After graduating from Roycemore School in Evanston, IL. in 1989, she attended the University of Kansas. Sharon was a renaissance woman. She was her father's kid. He a famous artist, she his number one fan. A bond that started with the years she would spend with him in his studio, eventually even working for him there. He was her hero. She loved more than anything sharing her father's memories, showing people his artwork and promoting his legacy. She was and will always be an integral part of the Ed Paschke Art Center that she was so important in helping to establish and to which she always contributing. Sharon was never more proud than standing next to her Dad at any of his multiple openings around the world. Sharon's under-spoken, unassuming personality often hid her brilliant knowledge of so many different things. She had an exquisite knowledge of modern art, and could go toe-to-toe with top contemporaries in the field. She had a fun and diverse excitement about music. From Duran Duran to AC/DC to Kyuss to David Bowie, she was always energized to share her latest bands and discoveries. She loved live music and could be seen up front at a Metallica show or backstage at the Foo Fighters. Finally, like her dad, she was a hopeless connoisseur of pop culture and loved to talk about the absurdities and excesses of the rich and famous. But her biggest enjoyment of all came from comedy. She loved it all. Movies, TV Shows, Stand up. Saturday Night Live. Bill Murray. Seinfeld. Bill Hicks. She especially loved comedian Mitch Hedberg's dry sense of humor; "I like escalators, because an escalator can never break; it can only become stairs. There would never be an "Escalator Temporarily Out of Order" sign. Only an "Escalator Temporarily Stairs . . . Sorry for the Convenience." The best part of the listening to or watching comedy with Sharon was her infectious laugh. It made you laugh. It made you feel good. As much as Sharon was interested in the world, her true gift was the way she cared for others. Her mother Nancy was stricken with Parkinson's Disease when Sharon was but a very small child. As Sharon grew up, she, more than anyone else, helped care for her mom for her entire life. Sharon's warmth and quiet compassion always made those around her feel comfortable. This quality was most evident in Sharon's lifelong love of animals, particularly her cats. Over the course of her lifetime, she raised and cared for some of the most colorful feline characters you can imagine including Star, Silver, Pepper, Minnie, Pickles, Kosmo, Rudy, Momo, and Lincoln. It was this daily display of selfless affection where you could truly see Sharon's soul. It was endearing, loving, and beautiful. Sharon spent her professional life as a top art conservator restoring often important, rare works of art and documents and making them as good as new. She eventually bought the business but sadly did not have enough time to enjoy the prosperity of her new role as an owner. In 2010, Sharon began the most important chapter in her journey: she met and committed to the love of her life, Michael Bullis. For the past 13 years, they shared everything. "Similar souls" as they say. Sharon and Mike spent every day together laughing, working, and experiencing life. Sharon, a noted lover of all things take-out, would order her favorite foods like well-done pizza, the occasional char-dog and of course, Chinese food. Mike was soon a convert and enjoyed her non-cooking ways. Thank you to Mike and his family Pat, Carol, and Linda for taking such good care of Sharon during these past months. Sharon was predeceased by her father Ed Paschke and her mother Nancy Paschke. She is survived by life partner Michael Bullis; brother Marc (Elaine) Paschke; nieces Erica and Miranda Paschke and nephew Damien Paschke; Uncle Dan Cohn, Uncle Richard (Kate) Paschke, Aunt Sally (Jim) Haines, and Aunt Susy (Paul) Hippe; her kitties Lincoln and Momo; and many loving cousins and friends. Private interment of cremated remains at Graceland Cemetery. In lieu of flowers please consider donating to any of the following organizations that Sharon actively supported: Ed Paschke Art Center, https: //www.edpaschkeartcenter.org/support#donate; World Vision, https://www.worldvision.org/; Oak Park Animal League, http://www.animalcareleague.org/ or Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund https://gorillafund.org/. For information: Inclusive Funeral Care, 773-370-2959 or www.InclusiveFuneralCare.com.

Sharon Nicole Paschke

April 23, 1971 - July 26, 2023