Sharla Heather Thompson
Obituary
Thompson, Sharla Heather…
With breaking hearts we share that our beloved Sharla passed away unexpectedly on 10 July 2026, aged 51. She is profoundly missed by her devoted husband Michael and her talented children Sid and Oliver; her parents Peter and Marlene Lee; her sister Sherry Lee and her brother-in-law Gregory Lee Newsome; so many family members and more treasured friends than we can count.
Her gorgeous smile always at the ready, Sharla was one of the most beautiful, loving, thoughtful, wise and caring people anyone could wish to know. A graduate of Western University (B.A. English literature) and the University of Guelph (RVT), her career comprised 24 years of work in animal care, culminating in her role as Supervisor of Biology Animal Facilities at Western University. In her personal life she enjoyed fireside evenings, game nights, swimming and cottage vacations with her cherished family. An avid reader with a gift for words, an accomplished musician, and a maker and giver of endless gifts, Sharla was known for her warmth, wit, and imagination, but especially for her seemingly boundless kindness. Her capacity for sympathy and understanding was unmatched, as were her steadfast love and tender support for her husband and children; yet her generosity also reached far into her community. Modest, gracious, and without presumption, Sharla gave her love, time, energy, resources and compassionate insight without stinting. All these words fail to capture even a glimpse of the lovely person we have lost. We are shattered; even so, we are unfathomably richer as a family for having shared in her extraordinary life. She will always live, unforgotten, in our hearts.
Family members and friends extend their heartfelt thanks to the caring staff in the ICU at University Hospital, London.
In Sharla’s memory, and in lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Salthaven Wildlife Rehabilitation and Education Centre, or a charity of your choice.
A gathering to celebrate Sharla’s life will take place on the afternoon of Wednesday, 29 July 2026 at Quiet Earth Farm, 1681 Hunt Rd, Dorchester, ON N0L 1G6. Friends, relatives, and well-wishers are warmly invited to stop by between 2:00 pm – 4:00 pm.
