June 6, 1947 — October 3, 2025
Sharon grew up in Painesville, Ohio, where her mother was a grammar school teacher and her father served as Assistant School Superintendent and a respected high school sports official. An active and spirited student, she participated in marching band and 4-H before graduating from Harvey High School and Baldwin Wallace College. She went on to earn her Master’s Degree in Social Work from The Ohio State University.
For 35 years, Sharon devoted her professional life to the Department of Developmental Services, retiring in 2012. She began her career as a clinical social worker at the Wrentham Developmental Center, providing care and support to adults with intellectual disabilities. Her empathy, skill, and leadership led her to a supervisory role before transferring to the Taunton/Attleboro Area Office, where she continued her mission as an Area Social Worker. Known for her unwavering advocacy, Sharon championed dignity, respect, and the highest quality of care for those she served.
Colleagues and friends remember Sharon for her warmth, generosity, and steady presence. She was a calming force, a thoughtful listener, and a true mentor. Her homemade cookies—shared freely and often—became a signature symbol of her kindness and connection to others.
Faith was central to Sharon’s life. A devoted member of her church, she found joy in teaching Bible study, where her warmth, insight, and gentle guidance inspired meaningful reflection and spiritual growth.
A lifelong sports enthusiast, Sharon loved cheering for her favorite teams: The Ohio State, the New England Patriots, and the Boston Red Sox. Her enthusiasm for the game and her team spirit were as infectious as her laughter.
She is survived by her husband of 33 years, Donald Wilkins; her sons, Jay Fratello and family of Ocala, FL, and Nicholas Fratello and family of Bedford, MA; and her stepchildren, Benjamin Wilkins and family of Burlington, VT, Charles Wilkins of Providence, RI, and Emily Wilkins Clark-Walton and family of Bothell, WA. She also leaves behind her brother, Richard Rainsberger and family of Dover, OH; her sister, Ellen Batchelder and family of Lawrenceville, GA; and her beloved grandchildren—Madigan, Addison, Brooklyn, Tristan, Quentin, Alex, Owen, and Spencer—each of whom she adored and made feel uniquely cherished.
Calling hours will be held on Friday, October 10, from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m. at the Pickering & Son Westborough Funeral Home, 62 West Main Street, Westborough. Her funeral Mass will be celebrated on Saturday, October 11, at 10:00 a.m. in St. Luke the Evangelist Church, 70 West Main Street, Westborough. Burial will follow in St. Luke’s Cemetery.
