Back to Message Board

Sharon Mendoza Lindenauer - Class of 1983

Submitted by Bill Norvell 1965 <w.norvell@att.net> on 12/Sep/2022
97.101.167.73

    Sharon Mendoza Lindenauer , age 57, of Modena, NY, found her peace surrounded by her family in the home that she loved in Modena, NY, on September 11, 2022.

Sharon was born in Newburgh, NY, to Jean and James Mendoza on February 16, 1965. She was the youngest of 4 sisters, with Marge, Jeannie, and Carol arriving several years before Sharon. Legend has it the doctor who delivered her was afraid to tell Jim that he had delivered another girl to the family.

She attended Newburgh schools, but from a young age she spent every summer at the beloved shore home the family had in Ship Bottom, NJ. Sharon graduated with a B.S. in Elementary Education from SUNY New Paltz, and in her first few years after college worked as a substitute teacher in local school districts.

Sharon married Larry Lindenauer in 1989, and they lived their first years of marriage in New Windsor, NY, before moving to Modena in 1996 with 2-year-old Jacob and newborn Ben.

When not actively involved with the Plattekill PTA, or being the ringleader of the children of Meadow Lane, Sharon could be found working at Lombardi's Restaurant in Gardiner, NY, where she developed many lifelong friendships. The pattern would continue when she worked as Scan File Coordinator at Hannaford in Modena, where more lifelong friendships would be formed.

As her boys reached their teenage years, Sharon upped her game and became surrogate mother to several exchange students, who would live with her family while they studied in America. Sharon received calls in the past few days from her boys (now men) in Croatia, Ecuador, and Brazil.

However, not content with that, she also took into her home several local boys who needed her guidance, wisdom, and generosity. As if this was not enough, she was an animal lover who took in strays and shelter dogs and cats that were an integral part of her life, as those who knew her can attest. One dog, or one cat? That would not do! She was famous for saying, A dog needs a dog, and a cat needs a cat� Therefore, they were always paired in her home.

Sharon battled pancreatic cancer for an amazing 3 years, but her fight is now over.

She is pre-deceased by her parents, James and Jean Mendoza, and her father-in-law, Harvey Lindenauer.

Sharon is survived by her husband of 33 years, Larry; son Jacob and his wife Angelica of Albany, NY; and son Ben of Modena. She is also survived by her sisters: Marge Stepansky (William), of Windsor Locks, CT; Jean Moore (Alan), of Newburgh, NY; and Carol Flannery of Newburgh, NY. Additionally, she is survived by her mother-in-law, Maxine Lindenauer, sister-in-law Cathy Lindenauer (Bob Crispin), and brother-in-law Steve Lindenauer (Lulu), all of Florida. Several cousins and aunts will remember her with fondness. Sharon will be dearly missed by many nieces and nephews, who lovingly referred to her as “Aunt Sha.� It would be incomplete not to mention the boys who affectionately called her Mom Josip, Roberto, Reges, Bruno, Nick, Mike, and Brad.

Visitation will be 4pm-7pm on Thursday, September 15th at Brooks Funeral Home, 481 Gidney Ave., Newburgh, NY. Cremation will follow and Sharon requested her ashes be spread in some of her favorite places.

A special Thank You� to her Doctors and the Infusion Staff at Crystal Run Health Services for their compassion during her battle, and to Hudson Valley Hospice for helping her through her final days.