Mary Sharon Mayo-DeLancey, an alumnus of the Smethport Area High School, passed away on Sunday, January 23, 2005, in Bradford Regional Medical Center after a long battle with diabetes, dialysis, and osteomyelitis.
Prior to her death, Sharon led a very active life, serving her church, community and civic organizations. St. Elizabeth of Hungary Church in Smethport was her home parish. This is where she received her religious instruction, celebrated her first communion, was confirmed, married, taught adult and children religion classes and renewed her twenty-fifth wedding anniversary vows in 1994. Her funeral Mass was held in this same church on January 26, 2005.
Sharon served the community as chairman of the Smethport Zoning Hearing Board, a three-member panel that heard and settled questions about the borough's zoning ordinance. She also was secretary of the Smethport Area Chamber of Commerce during several of this group's Hamlin Lake Festivals in the 1990's. Perhaps her most extensive volunteer service came as a member of the Smethport Area Jaycee Wives and Pennsylvania Jaycettes. After serving several times as president of the Smethport chapter, she went on to hold the offices of state, district, and regional director of the Pennsylvania Jaycettes. She traveled around the state for one year during her term as librarian for the Jaycettes.
Following her graduation from SAHS, studied X-ray technology in Philadelphia and returned to Smethport to accept a position at the Bradford Hospital. Shortly after our marriage in April 1969, Sharon passed her registry, a national examination for radiological technicians. Even though she quit working when our son, Andy, was in thrid grade, she maintained her active membership in the American Registry of Radiological Technicians until 1988.
Gifted with a beautiful voice, Sharon sang in and directed the church choir and, despite her illness, was able to sing at Andy's wedding in October 2000. She was happy to spend her time with our two grandchildren, Sam and Brandon, and was especially proud to see Brandon born at Pittsburgh's Mercy Hospital.
If you would like to reach Fran, he can be contacted by email at delancey401@yahoo.com.
See the rest of the Class of 1963