Sharol Mulder Mkpado

On January 13th, we bid good-bye to a loving, wonderful human being, Sharol Mulder Mkpado. She succumbed to a very rare cancer of the bile ducts and left us… “happily” (her word) and confident she knew God, and sure that she would arrive in Heaven.

Sharol was born on June 26, 1964, the oldest daughter of Rebekah and Ron Mulder of Santa Barbara. She is survived by her husband Chris, their sons Christian (Shannon Sweeney) and Kele, and their daughter Alexandra. Also mourning the end of her life is Patsy (Kyle Lachman), her sister. She leaves behind many aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces and nephews.

She attended Cold Spring Elementary, Santa Barbara Junior and Senior High Schools and Westmont College. Experiences that left her with a love of travel were a year spent in Holland (6th grade), Time share week vacations “all over the world” with her family, and a year in China with her newly acquired BA, teaching ESL in Hunan Province.

She and Patsy had an idyllic childhood–roaming freely with their friends on the paths and in the canyons around Westmont. She made friends in the neighborhood and at Westmont who were in her life to the end.

She returned to San Francisco State for her master’s degree in ESL, and subsequently taught in Korea and Taiwan where she met and married the love of her life, Chris.

Sharol’s concern for foster children led her to Sacramento where she was instrumental in changing legislation that made it possible for foster children to participate in activities just like regular kids. She walked the walk: her beloved daughter Alex was a foster child before she was adopted by her forever family!

She made friends everywhere. Many of them have stepped up lovingly to plant her garden, organize her “stuff”, decorate her house for Christmas, install grab bars in her bathroom, drop numerous bouquets and meals at her doorstep, etc. etc. etc. Those of us in her family are amazed at the love and concern given freely to us all.

So many of her clients (She worked as a VERY successful realtor for 30 years–over 600 families realized their dreams with the help of her caring and expertise) have become friends as well. Our thanks to each of you for trusting Sharol with your futures.

She was awarded both the Jack Kelly (most complicated exchange transaction of the year) AND the Howard Gates (most complicated residential transaction) awards, the ONLY residential

realtor to have received both of the highest accolades given by the Santa Barbara Board of Realtors.

She came home from the hospital to a beautiful cocoon constructed by her sons and husband. A constant fire in the fireplace, 20+ candles, a comfortable hospital bed next to the wall of windows in her living room and her two cats. Her personal goodbyes to each of us were beautiful, and her passing was so serene that it has made an unthinkable loss less sad.

Farewell, dear Sharol. Our memories of you are so, so rich and numerous. They will sustain us.

All are welcome to attend the Memorial Service to be held at Community Church in Santa Barbara on Saturday March 11th at 11am. A picnic lunch will follow the service. Please RSVP online using the following link: https://pp.events/aaXgBqRJ

The Mkpado and Mulder Families