Sharon Ann (Dowd) Leahy, 67, of Cromwell, passed away and entered eternal life peacefully on Friday, November 18, 2016. She was a beloved wife and best friend to her husband, Wayne K. Leahy for forty-four years. Together they shared a passion for travel and eventually obtained their Irish citizenships. Sharon and Wayne were an amazing example of what unconditional love truly is. Whether it was a romantic getaway or a kiss in the kitchen, their love was apparent to everyone around them. Sharon was also a loving sister, mother, grandmother and aunt. Sharon was born on March 3, 1949 in Hartford, CT. At a young age, Sharon moved to Cromwell where she was a life-long resident. She proudly attended Mercy High School in Middletown and was the first graduating class in 1967. She continued her education in Burlington, VT where she attended Trinity College and worked on her dream of becoming a teacher. It was at Trinity where she met the love of her life, Wayne, who attended Saint Michael's College, also in Vermont. Their friendship grew over time and before long realized that they were one another's soul mates. Upon returning to Connecticut, Sharon began her teaching in Cromwell at Edna C. Stevens School where she pioneered the special education classroom. She also attended Central Connecticut State University where she earned her Master's Degree in Education. After teaching for three years, she decided to put her career on hold and raise a family with Wayne whom she married on November 4, 1972. She later returned to teaching and spent over twenty years at Horace W. Porter School in Columbia, CT. Sharon enjoyed her time as a Hospice volunteer at Middlesex Hospital and spending time at Crossroads in Columbia as a camp counselor at Camp Care. She also was a member of Mother's Circle at Saint John Church in Cromwell and loved watercolor painting. Along with her husband, Wayne, Sharon leaves her legacy to live on through two daughters, Kellie and Meagan. Kelly (Leahy) Davis and her husband, Todd who have two daughters, Madison (13) and McKenna (10) of Tolland and Meagan (Leahy) Ribera and her husband, Bob who have a son, Michael (11) and a daughter, Emma (9) of Cromwell. Sharon is also survived by a brother, Patrick Dowd and his wife, Claudia and their children Michael and Ryan, all of North Carolina and her aunts, uncles and cousins as well as numerous friends and past students whom she adored so greatly. Sharon was predeceased by her birth parents, Beatrice and Joseph Lafko and her adoptive parents, Shirley and Lawrence Dowd, also of Cromwell. The family would like to extend their sincere gratitude to all of the doctors, nurses, CNAs and other staff members who allowed Sharon to live the last months of her life with as much comfort and dignity as possible. The family will forever remember the amazing team on the fourth floor of Water's Edge in Middletown for all the love and care they showed Sharon. Funeral services will be held on Wednesday, November 23 from the Cromwell Funeral Home, 506 Main Street, Cromwell at 9:00 am followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 10:00 am at Saint Elizabeth Seton Church, 280 Brook Street, Rocky Hill. Interment will be at the convenience of the family in the State Veterans' Cemetery in Middletown. Family and friends may call on Tuesday evening from 4:00 to 7:00pm at the Cromwell Funeral Home. In lieu of flowers, donations in Sharon's memory may be made to Beacon Hospice, 111 Founders Plaza, #1803, East Hartford, CT 06108 so they may continue to help other families living with Alzheimer's. To share memories or send condolences to the family, please visit www.doolittlefuneralservice.com