Results Communications, and more importantly, I, who had the good fortune of being her sister-in-law for many years, lost a family member, friend, and team member, with the recent passing of Sharon Marie Conlin to that lousy, silent thief known as “cancer.”

For more than 20 years, Sharon was the beloved life partner and partner-in-crime to my eldest brother, Sean. They spent so many great times together, just enjoying the simple things in life. The first time my brother brought her around to my condo in Brookline, I could see why he liked her so much. She was super-intelligent and witty, but had a very simple, nice and quiet demeanor.

Sharon was known and adored for her great wit and intelligence – entertaining family, friends, and co-workers with her low-key humor. For many years, Sharon was employed as a systems analyst at Digital Equipment Corporation (DEC) where she and Sean met. After retiring from her role at DEC, she and Sean worked together to restore several old New England homes. For the past several years, Sharon worked remotely with me as a Research Associate at Results Communications and Research — contributing greatly to the launch and growth of the firm.

Sharon truly appreciated and enjoyed the “best things in life are free” things that life offered. Favorite pastimes included antiquing, reading, doing crossword puzzles and going out to breakfast any time of the day with friends and family — particularly to Reins Deli in Vernon, CT. Her Catholic faith was very important to her and a great source of comfort to her at the end of her life.

Sharon passed away peacefully at Connecticut Hospice in Brandford, CT, at the age of 63, after a very brief battle with non-smokers non-small-cell-lung cancer (NSCLC). Sharon was a devoted friend and family member and her friends and family will greatly miss her sweet, gentle smile and presence.

In honor of Sharon, and so that her death will not be in vain, I am taking the liberty of sharing information about NSCLC, which has seen a great increase among women in the past decade. Because it often does not reveal its presence until it has created painful metastases in bones, such as the shoulder and hip, in many cases by the time it is found, it is far advanced. If you or a loved one are in doubt about the source of bone or other pain, why not ask your doctor for a CT scan of the lungs?

Because radon is thought to be one possible source of NSCLC, have your home checked for it.

Thanks for all of your great friendship, camaraderie, work, and humor, Sharon! You will always be an important part of my life and Results Communications!