Sharon Rau nee Tithof, 72, passed away peacefully on March 21, 2020.  Sharon was the wife of Carl "Bud" Rau; mother of Bradley (Erin Parker) Rau and Janelle (Matthew Clauson) Rau-Clauson; treasured daughter of Dorothy and the late Joseph Tithof;  precious "Mimi" to Grace Rau, Lillian Rau, Connor Rau and Beatrix Clauson; dear sister of Carol (Rodger) Roszatycki; honored sister-in-law to Thomas (Carol) Rau, the late Mary (Gerald) Krause, and Kathleen Rau.

Carl and Sharon married in 1969. Carl from an Irish-German family on one side of tracks and Sharon from a Polish-German family on the other. Opposites that attracted that grew into a balance. One measured and one adventurous. Sharon was creative--she played the accordion in the marching band, and as a young girl traveled to Chicago (from Michigan) to play. She taught herself to play the piano and became the most dedicated player in our home.  She played, "The Entertainer" with gusto.  Our home was always filled with someone practicing a musical piece.  When her kids were younger, she was a homemaker and volunteered at our school as a nurse's helper, Brownie leader and at the church. She began volunteering for organizations and charities putting on major events with celebrities.   She wrote poetry and won an amateur poetry contest with her poem titled, A Memorial to VietNam , which was published.  Sharon went to work in the nineties and developed a career in sales—still making all the performances, games and meets of the kids.   Sharon always kept a careful watch of her children and though she'd rarely mettle in their affairs--she had no tolerance for bullies.  Sharon enjoyed keeping a beautiful home and yard.  She was careful to be inclusive and treat her grandchildren equally.  No one got a dollar more or less. She was devoted to her Catholic faith and believed in miracles. Creative and stylish, she wore a golden blonde Farrah style with swooped bangs until her illness.

Services at this time will be held privately at Lawrence Funeral Home. Memorial mass and celebration of life will be held at a future date, floral arrangements will be accepted at that time please check www.lawrencefh.com for updates on services.

Sharon will be laid to rest at St. Patrick's Cemetery in Bay City, Michigan on Thursday, March 26, 2020.

Donations may be made to Breastcancer.org CARE Fund.

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