Music, Memories, Stories In Honour Of My Best Friend - My Mom - Sharron O'Neill
- Ryan O'Neill
- Nov 4
- 2 min read
November 7, 2022, was the hardest day I've ever experienced. Three years later, and I still get emotional over the four-year battle with cancer lost.
My mom, Sharron O'Neill, was a pillar in our community. In Kinburn, Arnprior, Pakenham, Carp, and The Harbour, every person knew and respected everything both she and my dad provided to the community.
Growing up, I heard many, many people mention their school bus driver being hard on them. Well, folks, there are rules for safety, and everyone got to and from school safely. Each day, she did six school runs. More importantly, never once was there an accident.
When my parents decided to stop running the small school bus company, my mom went to the Arnprior Hospital to do volunteer work.
She took extreme pride in that job, helping take patients to X-ray and/or blood work appointments from their in-hospital bed.
Along with helping patients, she also looked after the gift shop in the hospital.
No matter how minor the task set out in front of her, it was the most important thing at that time.
Often I would hear "Put your best foot forward" or "Try really hard, Bud."
The one quote that holds the absolute most meaning for me comes from being a truck driver and spending so much time in the school bus.
"Take it easy out there."
After a number of years working at the hospital, she faced everyone's biggest fear. The battle with cancer became her most important job.
Our family, unlike a lot of people, was blessed with four years of battles before it completely took over.
I've created Music For Mom, which is the smallest thank you that I could put together to honor the woman who was not only a pillar in the community but also a pillar in my life, always reminding me to "Take it easy out there" and put safety for everyone first.
I sure hope I'm able to make Mom proud of me. I have tried my whole life to be even a quarter of the person that my pillar was.
I would love if you could come out to the Arnprior Legion on Saturday November 8th to celebrate my mom Sharron's memory with me. We will have live music, food, a silent auction, a 50/50 draw and all proceeds will be going to the Arnprior Hospital Foundation's Hope for Scope Campaign where they are raising money to purchase a new Endoscopy Machine. If you would like to learn more about this campaign, visit here.
If you are unable to attend, or would like to make a donation ahead of time, I've partnered with this CRA registered Non-profit Organization (The Indie Vibe Network) to collect donations and ensure they go directly to the Arnprior Hospital's Hope for Scope Campaign. If you would like to donate now, please go here.
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