In Memoriam:

The Rev. Sharron R. Blezard

For the last 15 years, SOLI’s web pages have been graced with the presence of a gifted writer. Sharron Blezard has written hundreds of Lectionary Reflections, but also shared stories of her own musings and experimentation with simple living.

SOLI is sad to share the news that Sharron died on July 10, 2021, of Stage 4 Metastatic Breast Cancer. She was 60. Sharron will be remembered as a strong, vibrant, creative, thoughtful, soulful woman who exuded compassion and joy in all she said, did and wrote. For the time being, SOLI will continue to publish Lectionary reflections of hers from our archive.

Here is Sharron’s obituary, written by herself.

The Rev. Sharron Riessinger Blezard of Havre de Grace, MD, died on July 10, after a nearly three-year odyssey with metastatic breast cancer. She was 60 years old.

Sharron was married to the Rev. Robert C. Blezard, whom she called “the love of my life.” They moved to Maryland in October 2020, when Rob began serving as pastor of St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, Aberdeen. They previously lived in Harrisburg and Arendtsville, PA.

Before cancer forced her into early retirement in 2019, Sharron served concurrently as pastor of St. Paul Lutheran Church, New Cumberland, PA, and as an Assistant to the Bishop of the Lower Susquehanna Synod in central Pennsylvania. She had previously served ELCA congregations in Tennessee, North Dakota, West Virginia, New York, and Pennsylvania. Before pursuing ministry, Sharron had worked in the fields of university advancement and public relations, and she taught English literature and composition and rhetoric to middle school, high school, and community college students in Tennessee and Pennsylvania.

Pursuing the interests of her heart, Sharron began serving God’s people as a spiritual director after earning a certificate in Spiritual Direction from Lutheran Theological Southern Seminary. A passionate wordsmith all her life, Sharron maintained a personal blog, was highly active on social media, and for the last 15 years wrote weekly reflections on the website of the Stewardship of Life Institute.

Sharron earned a Master of Divinity degree from Lutheran Theological Seminary at Gettysburg (now United Lutheran Seminary). She earlier had earned a bachelor’s degree in music and a master’s degree in writing from the University of Tennessee, Chattanooga.

Born in Mt. Sterling, KY, Sharron was the beloved only child of George Riessinger, Jr. and Reniva (Rogers) Riessinger. Growing up, Sharron lived in Meridian, MS, and Nashville and Chattanooga, TN.

In addition to her husband, Sharron leaves her mother, Reniva Riessinger; three daughters, Elspeth Lucas (Justin Holzedl), Margaret Lucas and Kaleigh Blezard; a son, Kristian Blezard; and a granddaughter, Olive Holzedl.

A memorial service has been set for 4 p.m. on Sunday, Aug. 1, at St. Paul Lutheran Church, 201 Mt. Royal Ave., Aberdeen, MD 21001, with the Rev. Bill Gohl, bishop of the Delaware-Maryland Synod preaching. The service will be livestreamed on St. Paul’s Facebook page and YouTube channel.

Visitation with family will precede the service from 2:45 to 4 p.m., and then follow the service from 5 to 5:30 p.m., when a fellowship dinner buffet will be served.

In lieu of flowers, please consider gifts to St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, Aberdeen, MD, or United Lutheran Seminary.