Sharon Elena Erickson

Sharon Elena Erickson was born April 17, 1958 in San Jose, California to Vic and Mabel Erickson. Sharon received special education in her school years, following which she worked for Hope Services, navigating a cross-town bus trip daily from her East San Jose home. She was a valued member of the congregation of Alum Rock Covenant Church in San Jose.

At age 29 she moved to the newly established Kainos Home & Training Center in Redwood City, California, living for most of her life in the Adult Beginnings Residence. Kainos became not only her place of residence and her place of work, but also her place of community, her second family. She enjoyed her job at the Kainos Work Activity Center and “getting a check.” She liked being able to use her own money on her home visits and was always asking if she could take candy or other treats back to share with her housemates. She enjoyed her Kainos community friends and staff, as well as all the activities they did together such as bowling, swimming, dancing, and going out to dinner and movies. She loved her life at Kainos so much so that she would sometimes be bored with her home visits and look forward to returning to her home!

Sharon was able to “retire” at age 60 and then participate in the arts & crafts, exercise, and outings provided by the Kainos Day Program as well as activities at the YMCA. Kainos encourages their clients to give back to their community. Sharon’s favorite volunteer job was, as she put it, “playing with the kitties” at the animal shelter, not realizing that she was providing important socialization for the cats to make them ready for adoption.

It was difficult to get a handshake from Sharon—she was too busy trying to give a hug instead. She remembered people she had known from years in the past asking about them and when she could see them again. Even on cloudy gloomy mornings, she would say, “It’s a nice day today.” She was rarely in a bad mood. Sharon was truly one of God’s special children.

Sharon recently moved next door to LaVista, an adjacent Kainos facility, where on August 5, 2025 she laid down for a short nap before supper at 4:30 pm and was found non-responsive at 5 pm when the staff came to get her for dinner. She was 67 years old when she went to sleep here on Earth and woke in the arms of Jesus. She was preceded in death by a brother (Eugene, stillborn) and her parents. She is survived by her brother Dave (Karyl) of Scotts Valley, California and sister Linda (Terry) Johnson of Poulsbo, Washington; and nieces, nephews, great-nieces, and great-nephews.

A Celebration of Sharon’s Life is scheduled for 1:00 pm on Saturday, October 18, 2025 at Peninsula Covenant Church, 3560 Farm Hill Boulevard, Redwood City, CA. If you are able to attend, please feel free to wear the bright colors and sparkles which Sharon loved!

Memorial Gifts: Sharon’s family would like to thank each and every Kainos staff member, past and present, who loved and cared for Sharon with patience and dedication for 38 years. Memorial gifts may be sent in her memory to Kainos Home & Training Center, 3631 Jefferson Avenue, Redwood City, CA 94062