Sharon Ann Pillera

PILLERA -  Sharon Ann, age 77, passed away on Sunday November 10, 2024, at Thornton Hospital in La
Jolla, California.   She was preceded in death by parents David and Mary (Boettcher) Coon.  Survived by
husband Ronald Pillera, San Diego, CA; son Frank A. Dwyer, San Diego, CA; brother David A. Coon,
Kelleys Island, OH; sister Nancy (Mike) Ruediger, New Caney, TX;  Sister-in-law Andrea (Geoff) Ciniero,
Ellicott City, MD; brother-in-law Joe (Margaret) Pillera, Hamilton, VA;  Nieces & Nephews Bruce Jarvis,
Toledo, OH; Sarah (Kevin) Dutcher, Spring, TX; Shannon Skelly, Mount Airy, MD;  Matthew (Kish)
O’Donnell, Estero, Florida; Caitlin (Joey) Ciniero, Pineville, NC; Molly Ciniero, San Diego, CA; Sara Ciniero,
Ellicott City, MD; Jodi (Jeremy) Gibbs, Mechanicsville, VA; Jessica Pillera, Ashburn, VA; Daniel (Shannon)
Pillera, Leesburg, VA.

Sharon was born in Columbus, OH, and moved to New Jersey for two years before eventually moving
with her family to Toledo, OH.  She graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Sociology from Miami
University, Oxford, OH and became a social worker in Baltimore, Maryland.  She met her husband, Ron,
while working at the Domino Restaurant in College Park, MD and moved to Florida in 1976, where they
lived with son Frank in Winter Springs, FL.  Sharon pursued a new career path in education, earning a
degree in Elementary Education from Rollins College in Winter Park, FL.  She became a certified teacher
in Orange County, FL where she taught 4 th and 5 th grade for over 18 years and retired from teaching in
2006.  In 2015, she and her husband Ron moved to San Diego, CA to be close to their son who had
resided there for over 20 years.

Sharon dearly loved working in her yard in Florida and in San Diego.   Her desire was to have a safe
haven for birds and wildlife, and her yards were recognized and certified by the National Wildlife
Federation.   She loved Monarch Butterflies and had a collection of some 30-40 milkweed plants in her
backyard. When the caterpillars eventually emerged from their chrysalises, the backyard would fill with
Monarchs.  She also made sure the hummingbirds in San Diego were all welcome in her yard.  The
various feeders she had spread out could sometimes attract 30 or more Anna’s and Rufous
hummingbirds at a time.  Other smaller birds consumed the seed in her 5 or 6 regular feeders, which she
filled every morning.  Her garden also supplied needed water in this dry environment to the birds, bees,
ground squirrels, and other wildlife that would pass through her yard and her network of 6 or 7
fountains.     

The family asks that in lieu of flowers, gifts may be made to San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance in memory
of Sharon Pillera;  online at sdzwa.org/memorial or mailed to San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance, P.O. Box
120551, San Diego, CA 92112. 

A celebration of life memorial service (with viewing) will be held on Saturday, November 16, 2024 from
11:00 - 2:00.  This will be an outside service in the backyard at Sharon’s house, 7158 Canyon Hill Way,
San Diego CA.  She dearly loved her backyard and we could not think of a more perfect environment for
her send off.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Sharon Ann Pillera, please visit our floral store.