Published in the March 17, 2017 edition.
WAKEFIELD — Sharon (Pothier) Zagaria has died.
Sharon was a lifelong resident and educator in Wakefield, serving in the Walton, Doyle, and West Ward Schools as well as the Galvin Middle School. Sharon taught first grade, kindergarten with colleague and dear friend Mary Diapoulos, and fifth grade science. She wrote and received numerous educational grants for the students of Wakefield, and was involved in watershed awareness, which won a State Award in Environmental Education with New England Discovery.
During her years of teaching, and into her retirement, Sharon was sensitive to the success of her students, sending letters of congratulations to former students who graduated from high school from “Mrs. Zagaria and Mr. Elephant.”
Sharon graduated from Wakefield High School in 1959, and shortly thereafter, entered the Maryknoll Convent in Ossining, NY, where she served and forged lifelong friendships with her sisters, the “Sensational Sages,” who serve all over the world.
Shortly after leaving the convent, she met local musician and well-known band leader Pasquale “Patsy” Zagaria, who had been hired to play at her sister Jeanne’s wedding. It was love at first sight, and they were married seven months later. Thus began their 53 year journey together sharing love, laughter, and deep faith.
Sharon went to Mass Bay Community College and Boston State College, and earned her bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Education. She then earned her master’s degree at Salem State, with a 4.0 average for both degrees — with two small children at the time!
Sharon was a wonderful artist, an avid reader, and along with her husband, was a member of Bear Hill Golf Club and a lover of golf and tennis. She also enjoyed visiting Maryknoll, going to the movies, playing cards and mahjong, and spending time with her grandchildren Rose Conway, Nicholas and Madeline Zagaria.
Sharon was the daughter of the late Joseph L. and Margaret (Beane) Pothier. She leaves behind her loving husband and soulmate, Pasquale “Patsy” Zagaria and her three children, Jeffrey L. Zagaria of Florida, Dr. Holly M. Zagaria of Wakefield, and John W. Zagaria and daughter-in-law Natalie (Toppel) Zagaria of New Hampshre, as well as her brother Richard Pothier and sister-in-law Lorette of New Jersey; sister Jeanne (Pothier) Blois and brother-in-law David Blois of Wakefield; Dianne (Pothier) Laramie and brother-in-law Bill Laramie of Virginia; and nieces and nephews Michael Pothier of Arizona; Christopher Pothier of New Jersey; David Blois, Jr. of Billerica; Kevin Blois of Wakefield; Andrea Williams of the Netherlands; and Wendy Lazzari of Maryland.
Her funeral will be held from the McDonald Funeral Home, 19 Yale Ave., Wakefield on Monday at 9:30 a.m. followed by a funeral Mass in St. Joseph Church, 173 Albion St., Wakefield at 10:30. Interment will be at St. Patrick Cemetery, Stoneham.
Visitation for relatives and friends will be held at the funeral home Sunday 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.
