Sharon Stern Hollander, beloved wife, mother, sister, friend and advocate, passed away on March 19, 2025 at the age of 80. Sharon was born on 4/4/1944 in Cape Girardeau, Missouri. She was preceded in death by her parents Clara and Dave Stern her brother-in-law Alex Dane and her granddaughter Kaitlyn Nicole Koerner.
Education was very important to Sharon. She received her Bachelor’s Degree from the University of California at Berkeley in 1966. She received her MSW from Washington University in 1974. She also later in received an Associate’s Degree in Nursing from Barnes Jewish School of Nursing.
She worked in various roles as a social worker and then as a nurse and then went back to social work. She also worked as a Real Estate agent with Remax for several years. She retired in 2004 from Barnes Jewish Hospital where she worked as an LCSW in the Woman and Infants Section.
She lived a life filled with love, kindness, laughter, and dedication to family, community and faith. A devoted mother and grandmother, Sharon would do anything for her children and grandchildren. Sharon dedicated her life to advocating for others. She was committed to traditions, tzedakah, synagogue, community service, and she was an inspiration to all who knew her.
Sharon is survived by her husband of 58 years Robert Roy Hollander, her brother Maury (and Susan) Stern, her identical twin sister Sharlene Dane, her daughters Michelle (and Tom) Koerner and Andrea (and Scott) Lieberman. She is also survived by her grandchildren that became her biggest joys, Kevin and Jackson Koerner and Jonathan and Sophie Deering and step grandchildren Jack and Noah Lieberman. She will also be greatly missed by all her extended family.
Throughout her life, Sharon dedicated herself to activism for change. In the Sixties she fought against our participation in the Vietnam War. She was an active member of the Congress of Racial Equality (CORE), and a dedicated activist in the Free Speech Movement at her time in Berkeley.
Her true passion was politics. She was a diehard democrat. Sharon “…fought for the most vulnerable people who have no voice other than those willing to fight for them.”
She was a passionate volunteer and devoted member of the CRC congregation in St. Louis.
For the last five years, Sharon has lived with Frontal Temporal Dementia. Thank you to all those that took amazing care of mom, especially Ebony Miller, who always treated Sharon and Bob like family with love and kindness.
To Dolan Memory Care and all the staff at Frontier House – thank you for your patience and gentle care.
May her memory be a blessing.
A graveside service will be held on Sunday, March 23 at 10 AM at Chesed Shel Emeth Cemetery, 650 White Road in Chesterfield. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Central Reform Congregation. Please visit bergermemorialchapel.com for more information. BERGER MEMORIAL SERVICE
