Sharon Byrne

Sharon Byrne

Cedar Rapids

Sharon Byrne, 83, of Cedar Rapids died Sunday, April 6, 2025, at her residence, HallMar Village retirement community in Cedar Rapids surrounded by her loving family.

A funeral Mass officiated by John R. Flaherty will be held on Friday, April 11, 2025, at All Saints Catholic Church at 10:30 a.m. with a visitation at 9 a.m. Burial will be following the Mass at Mt. Calvary Cemetery in Cedar Rapids.

Sharon was born on March 15, 1942, in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, to Richard and Betty Fosdick. She was a graduate of Cedar Rapids Regis High School in Cedar Rapids, in 1960, as a member of Regis’ first graduating class. She married the love of her life, John “Jack” Byrne a year later, in 1961. She and Jack were married for 55 years, before he died in 2016.

Over a period of nearly 14 years, she and Jack had 6 children together (Lisa, Rick, Beth, Laurie, Jamie and Katie, respectively), all of whom have survived her, and all of whom she made the centerpiece of her adult life. Indeed, she delayed her post-high school education nearly 24 years to dedicate herself, her time, her energy and her love to her children until such time as the youngest of them were old enough to care for themselves. While continuing in her role as a mother, and wife, she attended Kirkwood Community College, and obtained an associate nursing degree, as a Registered Nurse. She started her career at the age of 42 as an oncology nurse at Mercy Medical Center in Cedar Rapids, where she worked for 22 years before retiring in 2006.

During each phase of her adult life, and despite her busy schedule, she somehow found the time to attend her children’s (and, eventually her grandchildren’s) extra-curricular events, including but not limited to their sporting events * * * softball, basketball, football, wrestling, track, for starters * * * and she had an innate ability to motivate them, and bestow confidence within them. The mountain was simply never too high, the hill never too steep, the obstacle never too daunting, the test never too difficult, and the opponent never too formidable. Most importantly, she was there, win or lose.

Sharon’s faith was, to say the least, very important to her. She was a Christian to her core, and she spent part of her retirement volunteering to feed the poor, as well as serving as a member of “St. Mary’s Circle,” which involved putting on fundraisers for All Saints Catholic Church. In addition, in retirement, she spent time with her friends, many of them friends for most of her life. She enjoyed playing cards, was involved in various book clubs, and enjoyed lunch outings with a group of friends known as “The Rockers.”

Sharon is survived by her children Lisa (John) Ogden, Rick (Sarah) Byrne, Beth (Kurt) Muller, Laurie Robinson, Jamie (Robin) Byrne, and Katie (Bill) Barnes; siblings Linda Abbott, Margaret (“Peggy”) Brewster; 18 grandchildren; and 9 great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her parents, and her younger, and only, brother, Dickie Fosdick.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to All Saints Catholic Church in Cedar Rapids.