Obituary for Sherri Marie Paustian (Sorenson)
Sherri Marie Paustian (Sorenson) 62, of Nottingham, NH passed away June 20th, 2022 in her home after a long courageous battle with breast cancer. I say courageous as courage coming from the old French word heart (strength of heart) which she had in spades. Though she lost her earthly fight in her heart she never gave up hope.
Sherri was born in Faribault, Minnesota May 29th, 1960 to Roger (predeceased) and Mary Sorenson. Sherri was the eldest girl of her 5 other siblings. Gary Sorenson, (Sherri Paustian), Perry Sorenson, Renee Kern (predeceased), Kristi Sorenson, and Michele Anderson.
Sherri graduated from Medford High School in 1978. She had fond memories of band where she played clarinet. She also participated in sports including track and softball. (Go Tigers!) Growing up in Medford, Sherri and her family had horses one of her truest loves. She absolutely loved riding. She found nothing more liberating. She also loved her family always sharing wonderful memories of childhood with her siblings, cousins, and neighborhood friends.
She had a long successful career with the phone company which started in 1982 and retired in 2010. She was a proud member of the telephone pioneers union. She was always proud of her career and the multitude of coworkers who became friends. Her family enjoyed visiting her where she always had a fun cubicle with a collection of glass figurines, nick knacks, stickers, and her beautiful, neat, all cap hand-written notes and family pictures. The favorite office was a high-rise building in Manchester overlooking the city.
Sherri Sorenson married David F Paustian on October 9th, 1982 in Minnesota. Where they also had their 1st house and 2 children. They moved to New Hampshire in 1989 where they stayed. Though they legally separated in 2012, They remained best friends.
Sherri and David have 2 children Karissa Kerouac (Paustian) of Lee, NH, and Gavin Paustian of Owatonna, MN. Karissa and her husband Thomas have 2 of Sherri’s beloved and adored grandgirls; Natahlia and Alana. Gavin has 3 of her loved grandchildren Jaidyn (of Plaistow, NH), Rylan and Novalee of Owatonna MN.
Sherri lived a wonderful life. She loved and enjoyed so many things. She was passionate about horses and enjoyed riding occasionally with friends. Our family home was filled with animals; fish, birds (even a wild robin for a while), hamsters, cats, and dogs. Out of her beloved pets, her most accomplished was her pug Teddy Mojo. Countless hours of obedience, advanced training classes, agility, canine good citizenship and was a certified therapy dog. She loved her dogs and was an excellent (novice) trainer.
She loved gardening always growing mature gardens or lovely annual and perineal garden beds as well as some squash, tomatoes, cucumbers and a large plot of corn and sunflowers. She loved singing and acting for the church she attended while living in Raymond, NH in the early 90’s, The New Life Assembly of God. She was an incredibly talented crafter. She did countless hours of cross-stitch projects. Making frameable art for gifts as well as embroidered clothing. Cross-stitch was then followed by quilt making. Finishing about 20+ quilts for friends, family, and herself. As of late she had taken up chunky hand-knit crochets blanket making and finished 4. She thoroughly enjoyed her walks. Walking with her dogs, friends and family. She loved nature, learning the paths through woods, and exploring new places. She would have walked every day if she could have. Sherri, David, Karissa, and Gavin were a very tight-knit close family and enjoyed the New England area visiting the mountains and oceans often. She shared a special relationship with her daughter Karissa and her grand-girls Natahlia and Alana. They continued to share so many countless adventures in the New England until May of this year.
Sherri wanted to travel and lived vicariously through those that did. This I believe is the main reason she wished to be cremated. In order for friends and family to bring her to the places, she had yet to see. Also, the separation of the family from Minnesota and New Hampshire, the way family could memorialize in whatever way they choose to, keep her close, it is the most environmentally friendly, being raised catholic, they allow cremation but feel some ashes be kept in a sacred place. All of these things were very important to her. Honoring her past and present. Some of her ashes are now with her Dad at the Calvary Cemetary in Faribault, as well as with her sister Renee at the Sacred Heart Cemetary in Owatonna, MN.
Sherri was born in Faribault, Minnesota May 29th, 1960 to Roger (predeceased) and Mary Sorenson. Sherri was the eldest girl of her 5 other siblings. Gary Sorenson, (Sherri Paustian), Perry Sorenson, Renee Kern (predeceased), Kristi Sorenson, and Michele Anderson.
Sherri graduated from Medford High School in 1978. She had fond memories of band where she played clarinet. She also participated in sports including track and softball. (Go Tigers!) Growing up in Medford, Sherri and her family had horses one of her truest loves. She absolutely loved riding. She found nothing more liberating. She also loved her family always sharing wonderful memories of childhood with her siblings, cousins, and neighborhood friends.
She had a long successful career with the phone company which started in 1982 and retired in 2010. She was a proud member of the telephone pioneers union. She was always proud of her career and the multitude of coworkers who became friends. Her family enjoyed visiting her where she always had a fun cubicle with a collection of glass figurines, nick knacks, stickers, and her beautiful, neat, all cap hand-written notes and family pictures. The favorite office was a high-rise building in Manchester overlooking the city.
Sherri Sorenson married David F Paustian on October 9th, 1982 in Minnesota. Where they also had their 1st house and 2 children. They moved to New Hampshire in 1989 where they stayed. Though they legally separated in 2012, They remained best friends.
Sherri and David have 2 children Karissa Kerouac (Paustian) of Lee, NH, and Gavin Paustian of Owatonna, MN. Karissa and her husband Thomas have 2 of Sherri’s beloved and adored grandgirls; Natahlia and Alana. Gavin has 3 of her loved grandchildren Jaidyn (of Plaistow, NH), Rylan and Novalee of Owatonna MN.
Sherri lived a wonderful life. She loved and enjoyed so many things. She was passionate about horses and enjoyed riding occasionally with friends. Our family home was filled with animals; fish, birds (even a wild robin for a while), hamsters, cats, and dogs. Out of her beloved pets, her most accomplished was her pug Teddy Mojo. Countless hours of obedience, advanced training classes, agility, canine good citizenship and was a certified therapy dog. She loved her dogs and was an excellent (novice) trainer.
She loved gardening always growing mature gardens or lovely annual and perineal garden beds as well as some squash, tomatoes, cucumbers and a large plot of corn and sunflowers. She loved singing and acting for the church she attended while living in Raymond, NH in the early 90’s, The New Life Assembly of God. She was an incredibly talented crafter. She did countless hours of cross-stitch projects. Making frameable art for gifts as well as embroidered clothing. Cross-stitch was then followed by quilt making. Finishing about 20+ quilts for friends, family, and herself. As of late she had taken up chunky hand-knit crochets blanket making and finished 4. She thoroughly enjoyed her walks. Walking with her dogs, friends and family. She loved nature, learning the paths through woods, and exploring new places. She would have walked every day if she could have. Sherri, David, Karissa, and Gavin were a very tight-knit close family and enjoyed the New England area visiting the mountains and oceans often. She shared a special relationship with her daughter Karissa and her grand-girls Natahlia and Alana. They continued to share so many countless adventures in the New England until May of this year.
Sherri wanted to travel and lived vicariously through those that did. This I believe is the main reason she wished to be cremated. In order for friends and family to bring her to the places, she had yet to see. Also, the separation of the family from Minnesota and New Hampshire, the way family could memorialize in whatever way they choose to, keep her close, it is the most environmentally friendly, being raised catholic, they allow cremation but feel some ashes be kept in a sacred place. All of these things were very important to her. Honoring her past and present. Some of her ashes are now with her Dad at the Calvary Cemetary in Faribault, as well as with her sister Renee at the Sacred Heart Cemetary in Owatonna, MN.