| Bio | Shari Elane Foley
May 15, 1944 – November 1, 2025
Shari Balch Foley VH 1962
Passed on November 1, 2025 at age 82
This was sent to me by her daughters Beth & Sara. As you read this you will see where there will be an official obituary sent out later, but I wanted to share this with you today, as it is a heartwarming loving account from her daughters about their mother.
This was our announcement last weekend.
We will have an on-line obituary live through the funeral home here in Austin for her in the coming days and will share that link with you.
There will be an open house gathering for her here in Austin in the coming weeks and one in Kansas City, MO. In the coming months and those details will get updated on that link.
We will also share KC details with you as soon as we are able to organize that.
This is incredibly hard to post and it will be long because we could go on forever about the angel that is and was our mom Shari Foley (Balch/Bellanti). She passed peacefully yesterday morning in hospice at age 81 from neurological complications and pneumonia. She is welcomed home by her parents, sisters, relatives ,friends, 2 husbands and our countless pets who left before her. To our cousins, friends, our brother Dan and family, my husband Shawn and her former students-know that she counted you all as her own. That is how she made everyone feel and we were honored to share her. She was a teacher from college to retirement and went back to school later in life for her masters. She was the definition of resilience having lost our dad Michael suddenly in 1981 when they were both 36. She somehow picked herself up and made sure we had a childhood and every chance. She married again to Bob Foley in 1999 who she had known in kindergarten in Independence, MO. and he also passed suddenly in 2014. Mom was an accomplished dancer, an incredible decorator, prankster, holiday enthusiast, consistent card sender and her creative classrooms were a sight to behold. She was deeply spiritually connected, wise, stylish, loyal and gorgeous. She stayed close to her friends from elementary school, high school and college her whole life and they are still like second mothers to us. She moved to Austin, Texas 9 years ago from our original home of Kansas City, MO. so we could be together again and to make sure she was fully taken care of. We are so lucky that we all loved being together so much in this life and loved doing all the same things. Our lives have revolved around her the last few years especially. She took care of her parents and sisters and we are so glad we could do the same for her. She was unconscious a lot of last week, but she uttered a phrase Friday out of nowhere saying "Why don't you go out and have some fun". What a blessing to hear her be herself one last time. Instead of any gifts, mom would want you to make a donation on her behalf to your favorite local based animal nonprofit or plant some flowers for yourself.
Beth and Sara.
Cook-Walden/Forest Oaks Funeral Home and Memorial Park
Shari Foley (Balch/Bellanti) passed peacefully on November 1, 2025, in hospice care at the age of 81.
She is lovingly welcomed home by her beloved parents, sisters, relatives, dear friends, two husbands, and her countless cherished pets who left before her.
Shari leaves behind two devoted daughters, Beth and Sara Bellanti; son in law Shawn Pander, her stepson, Dan Morrison and family; and many incredible nieces and nephews whom she thought of as her own.
Born and raised in Independence, Missouri, Shari attended Van Horn High School and Missouri Valley College, remaining close with many of her classmates throughout her life. After earning her degree in education, she began her lifelong career as an elementary school teacher, later earning her master’s degrees from the University of Connecticut and Avila University. She was a passionate educator who always went above and beyond for her students, their parents, and her teaching community.
Shari was the embodiment of resilience. After losing her first husband, Michael Bellanti, suddenly in 1981 when they were both just 36, she somehow found the strength to carry on and ensure her daughters had a joyful, full childhood and every opportunity in life. Years later, in 1999, she married her childhood classmate and kindergarten friend, Bob Foley, with whom she shared great laughter and love until his passing in 2014.
A woman of many talents and boundless creativity, Shari was an accomplished dancer, a gifted decorator, a talented quilter, a playful prankster, and a holiday enthusiast. Her classrooms were legendary for their imagination and joy. She was deeply spiritual, generous, wise, loyal, stylish, and beautiful inside and out.
Nine years ago, Shari moved from her lifelong home in Kansas City, Missouri, to Austin, Texas, to be close to her daughters once again. She loved music—especially Willie Nelson—and proudly attended her son-in-law Shawn Pander’s live shows right up until her final year of life.
In lieu of flowers or gifts, Shari would be honored by donations in her memory to a favorite local animal nonprofit, a breast cancer research organization, or simply by planting some flowers for yourself and thinking of her.
Austin, Texas friends and neighbors, please join Shari's family for a celebration of life open house Sunday November 23rd Noon-4pm
8201 Farmington Court Austin, Texas 78736
Memorial gathering information for Shari in Kansas City, MO, will be shared here in the coming months. |
