Obituary of Sharon "Sheri" Margaret Padilla

Sharon “Sheri” Altman Padilla Sheri was born January 23, 1944 in Laredo, Texas to USA/AC Captain Roger G. Altman and Margaret E. Kennedy, both of whom preceded her in death, she passed away November 9, 2020 in Jacksonville, Florida after a lengthy battle with Alzheimer’s. Sheri is survived by her husband of 39 years Anthony G. Padilla, Jacksonville, FL her siblings Robert Leahy, Sanibel Island, FL, Melanie MacLean, Prescott AZ, Meredith Sager, Prescott, AZ, and Kay Altman, Big Pine Key FL. Her children Christine (Stephen) Cook, Niceville, FL, Thomas (Mignon) Gannam, St Louis, MO, and Roger (Joy) Gannam, Longwood, FL, her grandchildren Timothy (Michelle) Streeter, Zachary (Rebecca) Gannam, Christian Cook, Caitlyn Gannam, Preston Gannam, Samuel Cook, Bella Gannam and 2 great grandchildren Mason Streeter and Mahaley Streeter, also her dearest friend Claudia Neal, Jacksonville, FL Sheri graduated from Savannah High in 1962, she then went onto St Joseph’s Nursing School, Sheri took time off to raise her family then returned to nursing. She became a registered nurse in 1981, after practicing nursing for several years she returned to school and in 1992 Sheri graduated from University of North Florida, with a BS in Nursing. Sheri specialized in Oncological Nursing working at St Vincent’s Hospital until her retirement in 2010. After living in Scotland for 4 years with her husband who was stationed there with the US Navy, Sheri caught the travel bug which led to many trips abroad with her husband and friends. Together they visited Scotland, Ireland, England, Wales, Russia, Turkey and Greece. Collecting a lifetime of memories along the way. Sheri of course, also had a genuine love for books and reading, a passion she passed on to her children. Sheri was active with her church, Riverside United Church of Christ, serving on the Core Team, as the leader of Welcome and Fun. The memorial service will be held Tuesday, November 24 at 5PM, at Sheri’s church: Riverside United Church of Christ, 2858 Post St, Jacksonville, FL 32205. The church has not been meeting in person since March due to COVID-19, but they are opening up for Sheri's service, with all the now-standard protocols (masks, distancing, sanitizing, etc.) There will also be a Zoom link available for anyone who wants to watch remotely. Anyone who is at heightened risk or who has been ill or exposed to COVID-19 recently is encouraged to watch remotely. In lieu of flowers the family requests donations be made in Sheri’s name to Alzheimer’s Association www.alz.org