Sharon Ann (Slaughter) Garvey

Sharon A. Garvey, 76, of Indianapolis, IN passed away on March 17, 2021.  Sharon was born in Baltimore, MD on March 9, 1945 to parents, Frederic M. and Adeline Love (Peacock) Slaughter.  She graduated from Brooklyn Park Jr./Sr. High School in 1963, where she was the editor of the school newspaper, on the yearbook staff, and a contributor to the school’s literary magazine.  She attended Mary Washington College in Fredericksburg, VA.

Sharon held many positions throughout her working career that included helping to establish Indianapolis’ Columbia School of Broadcasting, working as a typesetter and printer, assisting with editing/publishing a trade newspaper, and selling real estate.  She eventually retired in 2013 from Eli Lilly & Company, where she worked as a Senior Executive Assistant.

Sharon was a prolific textile artist whose beautiful quilts decorate walls and warm the beds of family and friends throughout the country.  At last count she had created more than 50 baby quilts for grandchildren and great nieces & nephews alone, and it brought her immense joy to know that the work of her hands would comfort and caress her loved ones for generations to come.

“Miss Pennie” or just “Pennie”, as she was known to her oldest and dearest friends, was an avid reader and enjoyed recommending and sharing books with everyone, most recently the many nurses who cared for her as her health declined.  She loved travel and especially enjoyed visiting Paris and London with her husband and family, and post-retirement cruises with her fellow adventurer/zip-lining partner and lifelong friend, Patricia “Trish” Petway.  Her passion for gardening and flowers was on full display in the yard on Delaware Street that she and her husband Michael lovingly – and painstakingly – nurtured, and first-time visitors always received directions that ended with “it’s the house with the two-story greenhouse on the front.”  Sharon and Michael’s home served as the nucleus for their large family where celebrations could easily top 40 guests, but it’s likely the countless cups of coffee shared in Sharon’s kitchen that will be remembered and missed the most.

Sharon was preceded in death by her husband, Michael Garvey; parents, Fredric and Adeline; and her siblings, Fredric, Patrick and David Slaughter.

Sharon is survived by her loving children: Sean Waiss (Stephanie), Stefan Waiss, Sabrina Waiss (Mehran Rashidfarokhy) and Bruce Henderson III (Katie); grandchildren: Sean, Lauren, Kyle, Tristan, Liam, Jonah, Samuel, Ava, Chandler and Emma; siblings-in-law: Kate McKnight (Bill), Patience Denz (Steve), Mary Garvey, Justine Currie (Jeff), Margaret Bennett (Ken), Landry Garvey, Neil Garvey (Kristin), Kristin Michel (Tom) and Rachel Morris (Rusty); as well as many loving nieces, nephews, extended family members and beloved friends.

Memorial services will be held privately on Monday, March 22, 2021 at Flanner Buchanan-Broad Ripple.  Burial will be in Our Lady of Peace Cemetery at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions are encouraged to the Ascension St. Vincent Nursing Scholarship Fund, c/o St. Vincent Foundation, 8402 Harcourt Road, Suite 210, Indianapolis, IN 46260.

Sharon’s memorial service may be viewed virtually by clicking HERE.