Sherry Cardell

In 2 Corinthians 5:8, Paul writes about how marvelous “. . . to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord.”  For Sherry June Cardell, that wonderful moment was June 22, 2022.

Sherry was born June 4, 1950, in Jersey City, New Jersey.  She was preceded in death by her parents, Joseph William Cardell and Alverna Helen Cardell, her sister, Helen Cardell, and the love of her life, her fiancé, Dale.  She is survived by two brothers, Joe W. Cardell, Jr. (Kathy) of Debary, Florida and Scott Cardell (Karen) of Sanford, Florida and two sisters, Susan Monaghan (Kevin) of St. Johns, Florida and Bonnie Yanick of Wallkill, New York.

During her childhood, she lived in Wall Township, New Jersey.  While in school, she developed a love of writing that continued throughout her life.  Sherry also had an artistic side and learned to do silk screenings.  

After high school, Sherry trained and worked as an operating room technician at Jersey Shore Medical Center in Neptune, NJ.  In 1971 she enrolled in Ann May School of Nursing and completed academic courses at Monmouth College.  She graduated and received her RN degree in 1974.  Sherry continued to work as a registered nurse in New Jersey until health problems made work impossible.   After that, she moved to

West Virginia.  Even though she had limited use of one side of her body, it was there that she bonded with a special horse named Star. 

In 1979 Sherry’s worsening visual and hearing impairments led her to move to Little Rock, Arkansas where she received training and services to help her live independently.  As part of her training, Sherry learned to read Braille, use public transportation, and manage daily living skills while being legally blind and deaf.  She learned sign language and taught some signs to her beloved “hearing dog,’ Spirit, who blessed her with licks and kisses for 14 years.  Sherry also became involved with the deaf-blind community, and later worked part-time with the Office for the Deaf and Hearing Impaired. 

Sherry gradually faced increasing mobility issues.  She went from using leg braces to spending most of her time in a wheelchair.  It was during this difficult time that she composed several poems.  They were typed in Braille.  Some of her poems, such as “Beatitudes for the Handicapped,” deal with life from the perspective of a person with physical handicaps.  Other poems reveal the source of her strength that enabled her to face each challenge—her faith in Jesus Christ.

In 1984 Sherry attended a convention for the deaf-blind in Seattle, WA.  While she was there, the Seattle Deaf-Blind Community performed a play called, “Children of Water.”  Sherry was so touched by the play that she helped initiate the creation of the Arkansas deaf-blind community play, “Children of Water, Too.”  Three years later, Sherry was chosen to participate in an international event for the hearing and visually impaired that was held in London, England.

After an accident in which a truck hit her wheelchair, Sherry’s vision improved.  She learned to read lips which greatly enhanced her interactions with others.  When there was an opening to work as an RN at River City Ministries, a non-profit community health service, Sherry jumped at the opportunity.  There she bonded with her co-workers and thoroughly enjoyed using her nursing skills to help others.  Her health again declined, and she wasn’t able to serve there any longer.

Sherry loved children.  For a brief period, she worked with preschoolers at Lamb’s Fold Day Care.  When she could no longer do that, she found other ways to share her love.  One of them was to pack shoeboxes for the annual Samaritan’s Purse Operation Christmas Child project.  She had already started buying gifts in anticipation of the shoebox packing party this fall at her church.  Most recently, she became known as “Memaw” to the two children who live next door to her.  She treasured every moment with them.

Throughout her life, Sherry faced frequent battles with illnesses, yet you seldom heard her complain.  She embraced life.  Simple pleasures were important to her.  She treasured letters and cards from friends and family.  Lighthouse themed objects filled her apartment and helped her remember her Jersey Shore roots.  A copy of the Serenity Prayer hung on her wall.  Sherry lived it out daily, especially the following lines:

“Living one day at a time, enjoying one moment at a time,

. . .trusting that He will make all things right if I surrender to

His will; that I may be reasonably happy in this life and

supremely happy with Him forever in the next.”    

The family will host a memorial service, details below:
July 7 at 11:00
Park Hill Baptist Church,
 201 East C Avenue,
North Little Rock, Arkansas.