Sharon “Gypsy Sharone” Dvorah Maldaver

Sharon “Gypsy Sharone” Dvorah Maldaver

A great light dimmed last Friday.

It is with great sadness that after a long & courageous battle with breast cancer, family & friends of Sharone Maldaver announce her peaceful passing. Her hand was held lovingly.

Sharone was born in Halifax, NS, then spent her younger years in Toronto, ON. She studied Psychology at University of Toronto, and in the early 1970’s she ran a house for troubled youth through Jewish Family Services. On advice from a friend who told her she was “one heck of a salesperson”, Sharone entered into real estate. She was very successful, but after a busy decade doing that, she moved to Chiapas, Mexico. She lived amongst the people and helped establish the “Women for Dignity” Co-operative, which helped Mayan women sell their handcrafted wares. During that time she was also involved in the Zapatista land reform movement.

Upon returning to Canada in 1985, Sharone followed the “Pow-Wow” trail across Canada selling her wares from the Co-operative. And then in 1986 she moved to Fort Smith, NWT where she fought pulp & paper mill expansion/pollution which impacted the Slave River & the eradication of Canada’s largest free roaming buffalo herd in Wood Buffalo National Park.

After a short time in Nevada City, CA, where she studied Massage Therapy, Sharone returned once again to the north – this time settling in Whitehorse, YT in 1996. Along with massage therapy and later menopause counseling, she also established “Temple of the Goddess” and then later “Sharone’s Magical Market” which toured the northern festival circuit in summer selling her wares, and even set up in downtown Whitehorse for the two weeks before Christmas. In her later years she focused on acting, singing & stand-up comedy.

Sharone built and nurtured a community of friends in Whitehorse for almost two decades. Sharone also built a community of friends on Salt Spring Island where she often “wintered”. She gave herself fully to her communities who in turn supported her whole heartedly in her times of need. Thanks to all who were with her physically, spiritually and / or financially. She loved you all.

Thanks to her Yukon healing team: Dr Sally MacDonald, Dr Danoucha Kanachowski, Karen LaPrairie, the staff at Homecare, Whitehorse General Hospital, and East West Clinic, Hospice Yukon, Gordon Smith, Dr Carolee; all her loving friends.

Thank you to her BC healing Team: Dr Karen Gelmon, Dr Walter Lemmo, to Vancouver Cancer Lodge, Vancouver General Hospital and Inspire Health, Salt Spring Healing Team: Kim Hansen, Candace, Patrick Callas and so many friends …

Thank you to Rick Karp and members of the Jewish community for being there with traditional prayers and special goodies in the difficult final weeks.

No matter where Sharone was, she was always involved in making her community a better place for all. Her saying “OH MY GODDESS” is known throughout the Americas! Her kind, thoughtful, eccentric presence always made everyone feel at ease & drew many people of all ages close to her. Although gone in body, her spirit shines on in all those she touched. Sharone is predeceased by her mother Helen Maldaver (Webber), and her father Louis Maldaver. She is survived by her loving brother Jeffrey Maldaver (Karen Forsyth), her Aunt Claire Long; her Goddess Daughter Jessica Perlitz (Emily Squires) and her Goddess Son Jacob Perlitz (Cheyenne) ; the “Goddesses”: Cate Innish, Marie-France Campagna, Andrea Schlupp, Shawn Verrier; and Sharone’s adopted-in-spirit daughters: Tamar Vandenberghe, Janice Durant, Kim Beggs & Marie-Jane Warshawski.

She is also pre-deceased by her larger than life dog “Bushman” 🙂

As per Sharone’s request a “Watch Out! Sharone has Passed to the Other Side Party!” / Celebration of Life, will be held in the summer, date TBA.

In Whitehorse a Memorial Service will take place in the United Church Basement on Saturday November 16, 2013 from 3pm – 5 pm. It is wheelchair accessible with an elevator.