Sharon Kuban Dow

Sharon M. Dow (nee Kuban), 77, of Joliet passed away on Friday, Oct, 8, 2021, surrounded by her four children. Sharon was born on March 29, 1944 at St. Joseph’s Hospital, Joliet, & resided in Joliet all of her life. She was the daughter of Theresa M. (Palla) and Joseph R. Kuban, Jr.

Sharon attended St. Joseph’s School, Rockdale & graduated from Ss. Cyril & Methodius School in 1958, St. Francis Academy in 1962, and St. Joseph’s School of Nursing, Joliet, where she earned her R.N. in 1966. After graduation, Sharon worked as a nurse at St. Joseph’s Hospital, where she served as Head Nurse in Pediatrics early in her career.

After her children were born, Sharon worked at Joliet Medical Group/DuPage Medical Group in Pediatrics, serving thousands of local area patients during her 45+ year career. After Retirement, Sharon volunteered at Lightways Hospice in Joliet.

Giving is what Sharon’s calling was: as a mother to her four children, as a nurse to her patients, as a caregiver to her mother, and as a friend to those in need. Sharon always tried to say thank you or to help mend a broken heart with food or her time.  Her family and friends will remember Sharon’s big heart and her generous spirit of giving. She especially enjoyed sharing her baked treats with her family, colleagues, and her Hospice friends.

Cherished memories include an amazing trip with nearly the entire family to Cozumel, many family vacations to Wisconsin and Michigan with cousins and neighbors, holiday celebrations with extended family, and making candies and baking Potica and other treats with her mother, her kids, and her grandkids.

Other memories include attending University of New Mexico Lobos softball games, weekend dinners and visits to Chicago, trips to Lake Tahoe, eating lobster in Maine, and cheering at grandkids’ baseball and softball games in person or online.

Since retirement Sharon enjoyed traveling to visit her children and spoiling her grandchildren and grand dogs. She looked forward to her frequent dog-sitting visits with her grand dog Bailey who eagerly awaited her company and treats. She also enjoyed shopping and dinner with friends, and playing Bingo.

Sharon is survived by her four children: Laura (Todd) Kinsella, Michelle (Todd) Kingsbury, James (Amy Kessling) Dow, Suzanne Dow, and her nine grandchildren: Brett, Sarah, Troy, Shane, and Adam Kinsella; Jake and Lauren Kingsbury; and Carter and Emma Dow. Sharon is also survived by her sister, Carol (Kuban) Koch, brother-in-law Tad H. Koch, and numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins. Her Joliet Medical/DuPage Medical Group co-workers became Sharon's extended family and friends for life.

Sharon was preceded in death by her parents Theresa (2013) and Joseph R. Kuban (1977), her brother Joseph R. Kuban lll (at birth), her grandparents, and numerous aunts, uncles, in-laws, and cousins.

In lieu of flowers, please consider donations to The Lumind IDSC Down Syndrome Foundation, www.lumindidsc.org on behalf of her granddaughter, Sarah Grace Kinsella.

Per Sharon’s wishes, cremation rites have been accorded.

Friends and relatives are invited to Sharon’s Memorial Mass to be celebrated on Friday, October 15, 2021 at 10:00 a.m. at St. Raymond Nonnatus Cathedral, 604 N. Raynor Ave. in Joliet. For those wishing to attend the mass virtually, a link is provided on Sharon's obituary page next to the service information. A private interment will follow at Resurrection Cemetery in Romeoville.

Face masks are required at the Cathedral. The family recognizes and understands that these are difficult times to gather. If you are unable to attend the Mass, a prayer for Sharon and her family and/or sharing a special memory of Sharon in the online site provided by Tezak‘s would be appreciated.

The family wishes to thank the people who gave Sharon their kind and loving care over the past several months, including her friends and neighbors, her caregiver, and her doctors and nurses.