Dr. Sharon Suzanne (Whitehead) Ackley

Dr. Sharon Suzanne (Whitehead) Ackley

Dr. Sharon Suzanne (Whitehead) Ackley, 75, of Mesa, AZ, passed away on Sept. 29, 2023 at Friendship Village of complications from cancer. Sharon was born Dec. 11, 1947 in Jamestown, NY, daughter of the late Harold Eli and Frances Joann Young Sr. She was very proud of her French Canadian and Italian heritage. She was an adorable curly haired and rambunctious girl who shared her young life with three siblings; Harold Jr., Cindy and Stephen, along with many aunts, uncles, cousins, and close friends. Sharon had many loves that included swimming, teaching, traveling, learning languages and the Catholic Church. She earned her Masters and Ph.D in Mathematics from Arizona State University. She taught mathematics at Marcos de Niza High School, Mesa Community College and Arizona State. She also taught in South America, Africa, India and Europe. Sharon loved her family dearly, as her children and grandchildren were the light of her life. She was an amazing wife, mother, grandmother, sister, aunt, cousin, colleague and friend. She is survived by her husband Archie Ackley of Warren, Pa., a brother, Harold E. Young Jr. and a sister; Cindy (Milan) Zilenek of Mesa, a son; Shayne Michael Whitehead of Long Beach, Ca., a daughter; Jill Marie Nowak and three grand- daughters, Abby, Allison, and Avery of Wilsonville, OR. She was preceded in death by her parents Harold Eli and Frances Joann, her first husband, Michael John Whitehead and two daughters, Michelle and Denise Whitehead. A Memorial Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11 AM, Thursday, May 16, 2024, from the St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in Randolph. The Rev. Donald Watkins will be the Celebrant. Burial Inurnment will follow in the Valley View Cemetery in Ellington. Arrangements are entrusted to the VanRensselaer & Son Funeral Home, 14 Church St., Randolph. To leave a condolence log onto: www.vanrensselaerandsonfuneralhome.com.