Sharon Elizabeth Brinkman

Sharon Elizabeth Brinkman

Born July 1st, 1959

Died September 26th, 2025

Sharon Elizabeth (Cook) Brinkman, age 66, of Mount Vernon (previously of Carol Stream, IL), died Friday evening, September 26, 2025, at The Ohio State University East Hospital with her son and daughter-in-law at her side, praying with her, and holding her hand. Thankfully, she received the Last Rites of the Church the day before she passed, and the Eucharist the previous Sunday. Sharon had been in the hospital for most of the last two months with various issues that took an unexpected and sad turn around Wednesday of this past week.

Sharon was born on July 1,1959 in Chicago, IL to Donald Edgar Cook and Doris May Deinhart. She lost her father at the age of 8. Having three other siblings, Sharon was the oldest of the four and was a big help to her family growing up. She graduated from Willowbrook High School in Villa Park, IL and later attended the College of DuPage and Benedictine College in Lisle, IL.

When she was a young woman, she met the love of her life, Larry Edward Brinkman, whom she married in 1981. Larry always made Sharon feel special and they had a loving and happy marriage of 24 years. Together they raised one son, Daniel Edward, who survives her. When her son was born, Sharon put her career on hold to focus on his upbringing while still working part time to help support the family. She worked at Keebler, then in the medical transcription field and finally as a Dietetic Technician, first at Alexian Brothers Medical Center and then at Lee Manor Nursing and Rehabilitation Facility in Des Plaines, IL, where she happily worked for the last 17 years.

Shortly after her son Daniel was born, Sharon was nearly struck down by a rare disease, Necrotizing Fasciitis. At that time, she asked that God would spare her so she could see her son grow up. Miraculously, she recovered and got to see her son for another 37 years as well as see him marry a wonderful woman and to see herself become a grandmother.

While Danny was growing up, Sharon was always active in helping at school activities at Trinity Lutheran School and she was a favorite there of many of the other students and friends of her son. The Brinkman house was a revolving door in the neighborhood, and Sharon always made all her son’s friends feel welcome and appreciated.

In her spare time, Sharon tried to give back to the community in some way. Whether it was through her work at the teaching kitchen at Willow Creek Church in South Barrington, IL, crocheting hats for cancer patients at Wayne Township, IL or her help in preparing funeral lunches at St. Vincent DePaul Parish after her move to Mt. Vernon, her heart was always one of service to others.

After 24 years of Marriage, Sharon lost her husband, Larry, to cancer in 2005. She was incredibly supportive of her family while he was fighting cancer, working at least two jobs and carrying the family’s insurance to help make ends meet during a difficult time.

In 2021, Sharon welcomed her daughter-in-law, Brittany Whitney Brinkman, into her family. She loved spending time with her. And in March of this year, she was delighted to welcome her first grandchild, Gabriel Charles. She took great joy in baby Gabriel! And the week before her health issues started, she got to be Gabriel’s Godmother at his Baptism on June 29th, for which she planned a wonderful party for their family and friends. Gabriel’s parents will continue to pray that he can grow up to love others with as pure and perfect and joyful a love as Sharon always had.

On the Easter Vigil of 2023, Sharon, along with her son, was welcomed into the Catholic Church. They enjoyed going to the RCIA classes together and sharing their faith with one another.

Sharon was the kindest, most loving, patient and joyful woman you could ever meet. She made any holiday, party or occasion so much brighter and more fun for her having been a part of it. She would get hats and make a wonderful to-do over things like St Patrick’s Day, the Super Bowl, Halloween, coloring eggs on Easter, matching pajamas on Christmas- you name it. She was an excellent cook. Above all, Sharon was the best mom anyone could ever ask for.

She enjoyed watching Chicago Bears games with her son. As well as going to her Bible Study, mass and the First Saturday Devotion, she would make embroidered hankies for brides and their mothers that she called her Happy Tears Hankies. She gave them to all her friends and family that got married. She enjoyed doing crafts with her cousins. Above all, Sharon loved spending time with her family.

Sharon showed through her life what true love is: sacrifice, putting others before yourself. Sharon would always put others first above herself. She went through so much in her life and always kept moving forward with joy and love in her heart. She bore her many crosses valiantly and with true grace. God’s love shined brightly in the way she lived each day.

Her family will miss her terribly. But they are happy she can rest in the presence of the God who loves her even more than we do.

Sharon is survived by her son and daughter-in-law: Daniel and Brittany Brinkman of Mount Vernon; Grandson Gabriel Charles Brinkman; her mother: Doris May Liva of Illinois; her sisters Cathy Boughaffour (Hadj) of Daley City, California and Karen Rennie of Fort Worth, Texas; her brother Scott Rennie (Sandy) of Villa Park, Illinois and brother-in-law Ted Brinkman (Sheri) of Las Vegas, Nevada; and numerous nieces, nephews, other treasured relatives and friends. In addition to her husband, Larry, Sharon was preceded in death by her father, Donald Edgar Cook.

Friends may call Thursday October 2, 2025 from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m. at Roberts Funeral Home-Mount Vernon Chapel, 18260 Coshocton Rd, Mount Vernon. Funeral Mass will be Friday at 10:00 AM at St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church, 303 East High Street, Mount Vernon, Ohio Monsignor Mark J. Hammond officiating. Burial will follow at Mount Vernon Memorial Gardens, 18260 Coshocton Rd, Mount Vernon. Online tributes may be made at www.RobertsFuneralHome.com.