Sharlene L Jividen

Sharlene Laura Jividen, age 88 of Mishawaka, went to be with the Lord on Wednesday, May 28, 2025. Sharlene was born December 25, 1936, in Mansfield, Ohio to the late Homer and Maud Armstrong. She was a graduate of Mansfield Senior High School, class of 1954. In July of 1956, she married Darrell Jividen, and they celebrated over 65 years of marriage before Darrell’s passing on October 6, 2021.

She is survived by her sons Jeffrey Jividen of Wilmington, North Carolina and Douglas (Linda) Jividen of Mishawaka, Indiana. Surviving as well are her grandchildren, Jason Jividen, Adam (fiancé Jordyn Pierce) Jividen and Erin (Michael) Dines, along with her great grandchildren Oliver Jividen, Parker Dines, Zachary (Melissa) Jividen, Alexis Nunez, Lucas, Nicholas, and Marcus Pierce, and finally her great great grandchildren Sophia and Kenzie Jividen. She is also survived by her sister Dolores (Gene) Smith of Ontario, Ohio. She was preceded in death by her granddaughter Tonya Jividen and her daughter-in-law, Kay Jividen.

Visitation will be held one hour prior to the 6:00 funeral service on Wednesday, June 4, 2025, at Cruz Family Funeral Home of Osceola. Sharlene will be laid to rest beside her husband Darrell in Fairview Cemetery at a later date. We invite those unable to attend in person to join us for a livestream of the funeral service, so everyone can honor and remember Sharlene together by viewing her service in real time in the window below.

Sharlene began her career at Therm-O-Disc in Mansfield, Ohio, and later found her true calling as a Teacher’s Aide with the Naples, Florida school system, where she spent the last 10 years of her working life. Outside of work, Sharlene had a passion for gardening. She loved growing her own fruits and vegetables and took pride in canning them to enjoy throughout the year. She even found joy in mowing her lawn, always keeping it perfectly trimmed. Bargain hunting was one of her favorite pastimes, and she never passed up a good shopping trip or garage sale. She also loved to fish and spent many joyful years traveling the country with Darrell by her side.

Most of all, her faith in the Lord was the foundation of her life, and she shared it openly with everyone she met. Sharlene was a longtime member of Mansfield Baptist Temple, later attended Oak Creek Church, and eventually worshiped alongside her son Doug at Gospel City Church in Granger, IN. She had a heart for ministry and loved serving others as a way of serving God. She volunteered faithfully through the church’s bus ministry and made regular home visits to church members to share encouragement, kindness, and the love of Christ.

Sharlene was an amazing wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother. She was a steady, loving presence in the lives of those around her and a beautiful example of faith, strength, and selfless devotion.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the SEND Network, a church planting foundation so others may know the love of Christ. Donations may be made through the following link: www.NAMB.net/give/

To light a virtual candle, share a story of Sharlene’s life, or leave a message of comfort for her family, please visit the Guestbook tab above.

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