St. PatrickSA国际影视传媒檚 Day probably hit a little closer to home for those who knew Judith Sharp. Sharp was many things: an advocate, a teacher, an animal lover and much more.

But above all else, for Denise McKee, Sharp was a friend and she made that clear from the moment McKee first stepped foot in Yellowknife.

Sharp, a long-time advocate for disabled people in the North, passed away last week. She had been a board member on the NWT Disabilities Council for decades and the council held a celebration of her life on Thursday afternoon at the Baker Centre.

According to a social media post from the council on March 15, SharpSA国际影视传媒檚 wish was to have the afternoon filled with stories of joy and laughter with no tears.

McKee, executive director of the disabilities council, explained that when she first landed here to work at the NWT Disabilities Council, it was right around St. PatrickSA国际影视传媒檚 Day. Sharp, who was at the airport to greet her latest coworker, had a surprise waiting for her.

SA国际影视传媒淪he was all dressed up at the airport doing the greeting. She just ran up to me and gave me a great big hug dressed up as this leprechaun with her red hair and everything,SA国际影视传媒� McKee happily recounted. SA国际影视传媒淚 just thought, SA国际影视传媒極kay, I could make it hereSA国际影视传媒�. Everybody knew her and she would help anybody.SA国际影视传媒�

The last couple of years had been hard on Sharp, McKee explained.

SA国际影视传媒淏ut she always had a smile on her face, she was always laughing. She could find a joke in anything,SA国际影视传媒� she said.

Last summer stands out as being one of the harder times for Sharp. But just as she had helped many, many helped her.

SA国际影视传媒淧eople from the community helped her a lot, in making sure she could get out,SA国际影视传媒� McKee said. SA国际影视传媒淪he was in Calgary SA国际影视传媒� she did know a couple of people, so they would come from time to time to visit her.SA国际影视传媒�

Covid was another hurdle for Sharp, seeing as she already had health issues.

Staying inside and isolated is quite the opposite to who Sharp is, McKee said.

SA国际影视传媒淛udy was the social butterfly,SA国际影视传媒� she said. SA国际影视传媒淏ut people came to see her at her place.SA国际影视传媒�

As for SharpSA国际影视传媒檚 pets over the years, there is quite the list, but just before she passed, she had one dog. That dog is now under the care of an executor.

SA国际影视传媒淭hat was one of her real concerns SA国际影视传媒� that her pet would be taken care of,SA国际影视传媒� said McKee.

There wonSA国际影视传媒檛 ever be enough Judith Sharps in this world, let alone another one, McKee added, saying it needs a perfect balance of wit, care and the spark of life.

SA国际影视传媒淪he just really was living a life in full color,SA国际影视传媒� she said. SA国际影视传媒淎nd she made the decision when she wanted to leave and pass on and she went the same way she lived.SA国际影视传媒�

For SharpSA国际影视传媒檚 impact and memory to keep going, thereSA国际影视传媒檚 a key takeaway for McKee: she lived her life on her own terms and some pretty solid ones at that.

SA国际影视传媒淪he was very kind and open and wanted everyone to treat each other with respect and kindness,SA国际影视传媒� McKee said. SA国际影视传媒淪he was an amazing mentor to me and a really close friend.SA国际影视传媒�

SA国际影视传媒擝y Devon Tredinnick