Rinn, Sharon Arlene (Downing)

Age 72 of Dearborn Heights

Loving wife of Henry (Hank) Rinn.
Beloved Mother of Tamara (Troy) Lewis, Jim (Donna) Rinn, & Mark (Jodi) Rinn.
Extraordinary Nana to Lucas Perczak (Gina), Tristina Mitchel, Brandon Mitchel, TJ Lewis, Anastasia Rinn, Keely Rinn, Kerian Suess, Zackary Suess, Clara Barnhart, Paisley Rinn, Lyric Rinn and Great Nana to Olivia Perczak, Emma Perczak, and Roman Perczak.
Loving sister to and survived by John ("Bubbers") Downing and Jim (Janice) Downing and brother-in-law Mel (the late Phyllis) Pancoast.
Also survived by many nieces and nephews.
Preceded in death by her parents John Roscoe Downing and Lena Callie (Dame) Downing as well as her siblings Maxine, Earnest ("Bud") (Marcella), Phyllis Pancoast, Jane (Chick) Davis and Ruth Ann (Tom) Major.


Sharon Rinn loved a party.  Even more so, she loved to host a party. Halloween parties, New Years parties, Christmas parties, Christmas cookie parties, poker parties, graduation parties, party parties, birthday
upon birthday party.  Any excuse for a party.  Chinese New Years anyone? But she was much more than a party girl.  She was a people person.  If you were the new one to the group, her child's or grandchild's current boyfriend or
girlfriend, a nephew's or niece's friend, a relative of a relative, someone who didn't know anyone in the group except the person they came with, she would take the extra time to engage you and bring you into the circle.  That circle
grew pretty large over the years. She was very inclusive.  She used to say "I don't care if you are black, white, yellow or purple, gay or straight,you are welcome here."

The Rinn home was a place to pop in virtually any hour of the day or night. Folks came with their exciting news.  Folks came with their problems and for advice. Folks came just to smile and have a good time and enjoy a beer or two.
She was not your typical wife, mother or gran--  er, uh I mean Nana ("I am not a grandma").  She partied, drank, stayed up late and was a flirtatious soul. But, do not let things be misunderstood.  She was also a loyal, loving,
faithful wife and a caring, doting attentive mother.  She was a mother figure to many more kids than she birthed.   The list of people who at one time or another lived under her roof is a long one. She had very strong maternal
instincts. She would protect her cubs and teach them to protect  themselves.  She made sure you maximized your potential, academically and encouraged your artistic, creative pursuits, as she too was an artist.  She worked as a florist, often creating floral arrangements for friends and families weddings and other events.  She co-owned with a friend their own arts and crafts business. They would run it from top to bottom: gathering of supplies, creating the pieces, marketing and sale into the customers hand. She painted, did ceramics, drew (nudes!) and a multitude of other mediums. She was civic minded and was a den mother with the scouts.

She lived life loud with little regard to social norms and rules. It wasn't always polite,  but she was honest to a fault.  You knew what she felt. She left her mark on many people and the world is a better place because of it.