Anne P. Sharkey

Anne Patricia Sharkey passed peacefully in her sleep on January 15, 2023, in Wanaque, New Jersey.

Deeply proud of her Irish heritage, Anne was born on December 20, 1934, to Marie (County Longford) and Michael (County Galway) Laffey. The youngest of three children, Anne grew up in the Washington Heights neighborhood of Manhattan, spending her childhood playing in Highbridge Park and developing her lifelong love of swimming in the local pool.

She married the love of her life, William (Bill) J. Sharkey, on June 16, 1956, raising four sons and a daughter between NYC and Paramus, NJ. Once her children were in school, she enrolled in Bergen Community College and became a registered nurse. Her 20+ year career at Holy Name Medical Center included assignments in various departments. But when asked about her favorite, she would quickly answer, “Pediatrics!” A true baby-whisperer, Anne could quickly calm and soothe even the most upset child.

Anne’s life was forever centered around love for her family. Her children and grandchildren were a source of unending pride and the lights of her life, and her cherished relationship with her best friend, Maria Govier, spanned six decades. Her lifelong partner in crime was her sister “Juggie” with whom she shared a passion for tennis, bowling, and hidden estate sale finds. Her greatest love was reserved for her husband, Bill who passed away in 2015. Their life together was based on devotion to their family, their faith, and their shared values and heritage.

Anne was an incredible wife, mother, grandmother, sister, aunt, colleague, and friend and will be profoundly missed by the many people whose lives she touched.

Anne is survived by her children John (Christine) Sharkey of Painted Post, NY; Kevin (Kathleen) Sharkey of The Woodlands, TX; Michael (Anna) Sharkey of Rumson, NJ; Anne (Daniel) Larkin of Mahwah, NJ, and James Sharkey of Philadelphia, PA. Anne is also survived by twelve beloved grandchildren, Matthew and Connor Sharkey; Liam, Dylan, Ryan, and Aidan Sharkey; Maya and Elsa Sharkey; and Sean, Kathleen, Patrick, and Brendan Larkin. She is preceded in death by her husband, Bill, sister Joan Smith, and brother Donald Laffey.

The family will receive friends at Vander Platt Funeral Home, 257 Godwin Avenue, Wyckoff, NJ, on Thursday, January 19, 2023, from 5 to 8 pm. A Funeral Mass will be held on Friday, January 20, 2023 at 9:45 am at Church of Saint Elizabeth, 700 Wyckoff Avenue, Ramsey, NJ.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made in her honor to Tomorrows Children’s Fund to help children with cancer and serious blood disorders. www.TCFkid.org/donate/

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