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SHARON ANN SERENE Died July 18 at Queen's Medical Center. She owned Sharon Serene Creative, specializing in retail advertising, marketing and public relations. Past clients include Kahala Mall, Hawaii Kai Town Centre, Reyn's, Martin and MacArthur, and The Slipper House. She was born October 30, 1947 in Kittanning, Pennsylvania and attended the Art Institute of Pittsburgh where she earned a degree in commercial art. She moved to Hawaii in 1972. Known as a decisive, brilliant and quick-witted entrepreneur in a field that had been dominated by men, she was a no nonsense competitor in business. She did not suffer fools lightly, but she was also known as a caring employer and a mentor to those starting out in the business. She was honored with many awards during her career, including the 2003 Retail Merchants of Hawaii Governors Award for Excellence, and was a finalist in the 2005 Pacific Business News Women Who Mean Business. She served on the boards of Retail Merchants of Hawaii, Goodwill Industries and the International Council of Shopping Centers. Her sense of drive and determination marked her personal life as well, no more than when she took on a mid-life make-over that attracted widespread publicity for her success with physical conditioningachievements recognized when she was named a 2007 finalist in Hawaii Business Magazine's Hawaii's Fittest CEO competition. Her hobbies included personal growth programs, painting and shopping with an insider's keen eye for retail marketing. Serene is survived by her husband of 35 years, Jim Patterson, brother Don Serene (Nancy), nieces Terri Serene, Connie Shiplett (Ed), Lauren Shiplett, nephews Tom Serene and Matthew Shiplett. Services will be 9:30 a.m. August 10 at the boat ramp area of Kailua Beach Park, and will be followed by scattering of ashes offshore. Donations in her memory may be made to St. Francis Hospice.
SHARON ANN SERENE Died July 18 at Queen's Medical Center. She owned Sharon Serene Creative, specializing in retail advertising, marketing and public relations. Past clients include Kahala Mall, Hawaii Kai Town Centre, Reyn's, Martin and MacArthur, and The Slipper House. She was born October 30, 1947 in Kittanning, Pennsylvania and attended the Art Institute of Pittsburgh where she earned a degree in commercial art. She moved to Hawaii in 1972. Known as a decisive, brilliant and quick-witted entrepreneur in a field that had been dominated by men, she was a no nonsense competitor in business. She did not suffer fools lightly, but she was also known as a caring employer and a mentor to those starting out in the business. She was honored with many awards during her career, including the 2003 Retail Merchants of Hawaii Governors Award for Excellence, and was a finalist in the 2005 Pacific Business News Women Who Mean Business. She served on the boards of Retail Merchants of Hawaii, Goodwill Industries and the International Council of Shopping Centers. Her sense of drive and determination marked her personal life as well, no more than when she took on a mid-life make-over that attracted widespread publicity for her success with physical conditioningachievements recognized when she was named a 2007 finalist in Hawaii Business Magazine's Hawaii's Fittest CEO competition. Her hobbies included personal growth programs, painting and shopping with an insider's keen eye for retail marketing. Serene is survived by her husband of 35 years, Jim Patterson, brother Don Serene (Nancy), nieces Terri Serene, Connie Shiplett (Ed), Lauren Shiplett, nephews Tom Serene and Matthew Shiplett. Services will be 9:30 a.m. August 10 at the boat ramp area of Kailua Beach Park, and will be followed by scattering of ashes offshore. Donations in her memory may be made to St. Francis Hospice.Our deepest condolences to the family and friends of the deceased
