Sharon M. Robbins

Sharon M. Robbins, beloved mother, sister, grandmother, animal champion, and connoisseur of a well-written obituary, joined her menagerie of deceased pets and rescue animals on March 7, 2026. She was 81.

Long Island born and bred, she was the eldest of three sisters and the one with the least Lawng Island accent. She became active in animal rescue early on when she helped save 500 baby chicks stranded at JFK Airport in winter and relocated them to her parents’ bathroom—much to the surprise of her hard-of-hearing father when he opened the door the next morning. She was soon rescuing animals around the island and eventually became president of Long Island Humane Society for more than a decade, which allowed her to maintain a well-stocked household of one-eyed cats, three-legged cats, intelligence-challenged dogs, and other shelter rejects who had stolen her heart. She then worked as a vet’s assistant, which, while not paying well, did allow her to keep her fur children in good health at an economical price.

But her compassion extended far beyond the animal kingdom. She also donated regularly to organizations supporting Native American schools, children’s hospitals, and veterans, to name just a few charities. She never left home without several cans of cat food in her car (just in case) and kept treats in her purse the way most grandmothers keep butterscotch candies. To this day, her back porch attracts a steady parade of stray cats, raccoons, skunks, and opossums, who appear to have spread the word about the delectable cuisine served nightly. She maintains a five-star rating on Raccoon Yelp.

Not all creatures enjoyed the same hospitality—spiders were another matter entirely. A can of spider spray could be found in nearly every room of her house, the pictures of the eight-legged creepies covered in masking tape so she didn’t have to lay eyes on even their pictorial forms.

In 1993, after the death of her husband, Joseph, she moved to Ephrata, where her home continued to act as the heart of the family. In addition to her hosting most holidays, she also welcomed relatives and friends for short stays, long stays, and sometimes very long stays. She looked after her children, her mother, and just about anyone else who needed a place to land. Her patience with her children—especially the two older ones—was just short of sainthood.

She had a great fondness for the Monk and Doc Martin television series and a sharp, sarcastic sense of humor that amused everyone, including the nurses who tended to her in her final days.

She is survived by her three children, Janys Ruth (Jeff), Ray Cuffe, and Jenna Rose Robbins; two grandchildren, Carly and Quentin Bunty; two sisters, Marilyn and Roberta; her longtime friend Linda; her childhood friend Cathy Crispen; and what can only be described as a supergroup of cats—Barbra Streisand, Willie Nelson, and Freddie Mercury—along with a beloved grandcat, Harley Rolex Robbins.

After spending the last several months in hospitals and nursing facilities, our mother became keenly aware of how difficult navigating healthcare and insurance can be and constantly thanked her children for their help. Because she was always thinking of others, she would often worry how people without such a support network coped when they found themselves in a situation like hers. She hoped that others facing similar challenges might receive the same kind of support she was fortunate to have. We encourage you, in her memory, to extend that kindness to those who must navigate these situations alone.

In lieu of flowers, please consider giving to one of the following charities, working to fix our totally broken healthcare system, or donating a can of spider killer to your favorite arachnophobe. Or all three. Pet Pantry of Lancaster County, https://petpantrylc.org/
Patriot Pets, https://www.spcai.org/our-work/patriot-pets.

Relatives and friends are respectfully invited to attend a celebration of life at Charles F Snyder Jr Funeral Home & Crematory, 3110 Lititz Pike, Lititz Pa 17543 on Saturday, March 21, 2026 at 11:00 AM. There will be a time of visitation with the family from 10:00 AM until the time of service. Interment will be private.