Our dear mother, Sheryl Lee (Greenberg) Guild, passed away peacefully at her home on September 5, 2023, at 1pm. Her greatest joy in life was being a mom and a grandmother, two roles she excelled at. She never failed to “show up” in a very real sense for us. She was an
unwavering source of unconditional love. She showed her deep commitment to her role as our mother time and again. She was always interested and invested in our lives. Her children were her top priority, and she was fiercely focused on our well-being and happiness. She showed her commitment to us in both large and small ways, whether it be by moving across countries and states multiple times over the years to be near us, showing up for major life events (graduations, births, weddings, and so on), or simply just by always being available to offer the comfort of her presence, her advice, her encouragement, or her concern. She was our biggest cheerleader and champion, and her joys and sorrows often mirrored our own.
Sheryl was born in Sharon, Massachusetts, on February 18, 1949, to Edward and Norma Greenberg. She was the oldest of four children, and the only daughter. She loved her brothers fiercely, and she remained close to her immediate and extended family, which meant everything to her. She attended University of Massachusetts Amherst, and was interested in becoming a teacher. She had a silly, fun-loving side, and would often tell some hysterical stories from her college experiences. She also had an adventurous side; she loved experiencing new cultures and meeting new people, and she traveled extensively. In her early adulthood, she spent time in Europe, and, then, over the course of her life, she would end up living in ten countries and visiting over twenty. A few of her favorites, that she would often reminisce about, were Greece, Ecuador and Thailand. In the last few years she relished her almost yearly trip to Thailand. From the time she made her first visit, to see her son, Joey, she developed a love for the land, the food, and the people. She especially appreciated, and felt at peace near, the ocean, and she would often marvel at “the wonderful healing ions” and the “awe inspiring vastness” of it. She loved art, especially impressionist paintings, and music, particularly the classics and soundtracks from musicals. She was an avid reader, and this habit shone through in her impressive vocabulary. She also loved twilight; it was the time of day, she said, “where the Angels met the earth.” Her faith in God and belief in the power of prayer remained unwavering to the end. She had a quiet, poetic and artistic side, and was highly emotionally intelligent, especially when it came to understanding the feelings and perspectives of others. She touched the lives of many with her kind and generous spirit.
Sheryl fought bravely against a cruel, incurable disease (CJD); it robbed her of her voice and her independence, but it failed to break her beautiful spirit and her love of life. The last year she spent on earth was enveloped in love and magical moments. Our mom believed in another dimension, an existence beyond this physical realm. One of her favorite authors, Dr. Raymond Moody, who wrote about life after life, said, “Death is simply a shedding of the physical body like the butterfly shedding its cocoon. It is a transition to a higher state of consciousness where you continue to perceive, to understand, to laugh, and to grow."
Sheryl is survived by two of her brothers (Harvey and Steven Greenberg), her five children (Michael, Richard, Mia, Charlotte, and Joey), nine grandchildren (Bradley, Trevor, Tierra, Lena, Ashley, Sky, Carter, Rory, and Kian), and many beloved nieces, nephews, as well as other extended family.
There was a small gathering for her children over the past weekend. A memorial will be held out in Boston, Massachusetts, in the Spring of 2024. She will be laid to rest at Sharon Memorial Park alongside her father, mother, and brother Ricky.
We ask that you please become more aware of CJD, by going to https://cjdfoundation.org/
Collectively written by all of her children
