Sharon L. Ruchalski

Sharon Ruchalski was blessed with kind blue eyes, a quick-witted sense of humor, and a true zest for life. She was an amazing mother and grandmother and had more friends than you could shake a stick at! Born in Lynn, Massachusetts, along with her twin sister Sheila, to Priscilla Famolari (Rhodes) and Joseph Famolari on November 7, 1943, she grew up on Mall and West Green Streets, attending both Lynn English and Classical High Schools. Graduating in 1963, she was quickly recruited by the Lynn Daily Evening Item for her exceptional penmanship. She worked her way up in various newspaper roles, including a stint at the Rochester Times Union in New York. Returning to Lynn, she ended her career at the Item after thirty years as their Classified Advertising manager. She moved on to the Salem Evening News and once retired, worked part-time at Brown’s Kitchen & Bath and the Partridge Tree Gift Shop both in Danvers Square. During her life she was an avid golfer, racquetball player, beach go-er, and scratch-ticket scratcher. She was loved by many, including her first husband John Ruchalski with whom she had a daughter, Jill. She later married Vincent Rappleyea, who passed away in 2003. More recently, she spent her time with her dear friend Frank “Frankie” Smith also of Danvers. She was the wonderful, kind, and supportive mother to Jill Kimball and her partner, Dayna Flumerfelt, cherished grandmother to Aidan John Kimball, and their pet clan: Bruin, Lucy & Pebbles the cat. She leaves behind her brother Paul Famolari and partner Jennifer Landry, brother Alan Famolari, sister Joyce Sullo and brother-in-law Leo Gagnon - as well as treasured cousins, nieces, and nephews and dear life-long friends: Maureen “Moe” Shaffaval, Nina Lapine, Jay Clapp and Reni Conte. She’ll be joining her parents, and beloved sisters, Sheila Watson & Cindy Gagnon, who passed before her. Sharon had wonderful neighbors at the River Run Townhouses in Danvers, including Laurie, Jilly, Anne-Marie, Suzanne, and Deb and so many more. This past year, she fought an epic battle against COVID resulting in kidney failure. After months of struggle, in true Sharon fashion she said, “enough of this crap”, choosing Hospice care instead. She could not wait to reunite with her cherished dogs, Sammie, Winston, Phippen and Muffin. She passed away peacefully at the Kaplan Family Hospice house in Danvers. There will be no formal services, but instead a party in the spring will be held at the River Run Clubhouse. In lieu of flowers to family please consider sending donations in her memory to Northeast Animal Shelter, 347 Highland Ave, Salem, MA, 01970 or https://www.northeastanimalshelter.org/