Sharon Pidgeon, known to family and friends as Roni, lived a good life. She was born in Rochester, NY in 1943, where she was free to explore the city without all the stressy helicopter parenting typical of today. This set her on a lifelong path of traveling to meet new people and see new things. She was bright, vivacious, and enjoyed reading, puzzles and games.
She attended Alfred Technical University where, as a member of Pi Nu Epsilon, she fell in love with Buffalo native John (Jack) Pidgeon of her brother fraternity, Gamma Theta Gamma. They were married for 59 years until his death in 2021. They enjoyed bickering as a high art form, and this, combined with their love of travel, provided many good tales over the years. They began building their family of three children in Western New York, and then moved to Milford, MA, where Roni staved off the boredom of being a housewife by joining the Greenleaf Garden Club. She built friendships with other gardeners, flower show enthusiasts and judges the way rhizomes spread their beautiful flowers across the land. Upon moving to St. Louis, MO, Roni continued to grow her garden, and enjoyed putting on and judging Standard Flower Shows throughout Missouri’s East Central District. She was a Master Flower Show Judge Emeritus. With so many friends with their hands in the dirt, it is no wonder that these friendships helped Roni stay grounded.
While keeping her feet on the ground, Roni reached for the stars. She completed her BA, magna cum laude at Lindenwood University later in life, and enjoyed a career as a facility manager. On a dare from Jack, Roni tested for and was admitted to American Mensa, where friendships were built on eclectic conversation topics, games of trivia, and annual picnics and gatherings.
Roni traveled widely with family and friends, and was particularly proud of having visited all 50 states and their capitol buildings. She was lucky enough to visit the Middle East before things there went completely to pot, and she loved Europe, Greenland, and Australia. There was no country in which she set foot that did not provide her with a tale of culture, food or local interest.
She loved and was loved by many. Roni was preceded in death by her parents, Charles & Dorothy Arrowsmith, and her sister, Sharyl. She leaves behind her Navy veteran son Nick (wife Amy, daughter Stefanie), her artistic daughter Suzanne (husband Scott, children Amberlyn and Shane and their partners), and her happily independent daughter Karyn; one great granddaughter (Ellie); a dear niece Tami (husband John, daughters Sam and Jen); a beloved sister-in-law Alice; her close cousin Linda who shared childhood shenanigans (husband Bud, children Lora and David); and many more members of both her and her husband’s families.
Having lived such a good life, Roni died on October 26, 2026. She was cared for and made comfortable in her final hours by her family and by the good people of Pathways Hospice and Palliative Care.
Services: She will be interred at Jefferson Barracks with Jack, where they will continue what they started in 1962. A memorial service will be held at Kutis South County Chapel, 5255 Lemay Ferry Road on Monday, November 16. Visitation is at 11:00am, and the service begins very appropriately at high noon, when the sun is at its zenith and flowers receive the most of its loving rays.
In lieu of sending flowers, Roni would prefer you to make a donation to the Federated Garden Clubs of Missouri, 63 Rue Grand Drive, Lake Saint Louis, MO 63367. Get out there and get some dirt under your nails or go see a flower show!