Obituary of Charlene M. Sherry

Charlene Marie Sherry (née Bartenbach), age 92, passed away peacefully on January 22, 2026. She was the beloved wife of James Patrick Sherry Jr., who preceded her in death on February 25, 2025. For 67 years, they shared a marriage shaped by deep love and unwavering faith.

Charlene was a devoted and loving mother to six children: Charlene Mulholland (Jerry), Jeanine Sherry (Rich Kline), James Sherry (Sally), Christopher Sherry (Sue), Patrick Sherry (Lisa), and Thomas Sherry (Kim). She was the one, and only, cherished “GrandChar” to 13 beloved grandchildren and her first great grandchild: Jacqueline, Charlene Stanton (Thomas), James Mulholland (Claire), Christine, Rebecca Smith (Will), Julia, Anna Mae, Thomas, Olivia (who departed to Heaven on May 26, 2024), Quin, Connor, Daniel, Cole, TJ Stanton (great grandchild)

Charlene was the loving daughter of the late Charles and Nellie (Murtha) Bartenbach. She was preceded in death by her sisters Jeanne Marie (Bartenbach) Cade, Helen Marie (Bartenbach) Lynott, and Grace Marie (Bartenbach) Bratzell, as well as her sister-in- law Marie (Sherry) Miller and brother-in-law Edward Miller. She is survived by her brothers Charles Bartenbach (Carol), Joseph Bartenbach (Donna), and Richard Bartenbach.

Born in 1933, Charlene grew up in West Philadelphia before moving to Sharon Hill, PA in 1948. After marrying Jim, they lived in Collingdale, PA, and, in 1965, moved to Wallingford, PA, where they raised their family and lived for the next 57 years. Charlene graduated in 1950 from Notre Dame High School in Moylan, PA. She began her career at Nutter Mortgage and, in 1963, she and Jim established their own transportation consulting and tariff publishing firm, where she served as Vice President. Together, they grew the business to serve approximately 80 carrier clients throughout the East and, in 1973, acquired the Motor Carriers Service Bureau,expanding its reach to over 700 trucking companies.

Remarkably, Charlene played a critical role in running the business while raising six children. Charlene was known for her unmistakable grace, beauty, and serenity. She loved timeless and classic beauty—Waterford crystal, stained glass, floral arrangements, and botanical gardens —and possessed impeccable taste and enduring style. With her beautiful singing voice, she called each family member on their birthday to sing her special version of “It’s Somebody’s Birthday Today,” a treasured tradition her family will hold forever. Charlene and her sisters were exceptionally gifted artists and craftspeople, especially in sewing, needlepoint, stained glass, and oil painting. Charlene painted until her final days and lovingly created a needlepoint for each grandchild at birth—gifts that are deeply cherished. Thoughtful and  kind beyond measure, Charlene kept a prayer list and a stack of prayer cards she read every morning so that “nobody was ever forgotten.” She lived a purposeful and virtuous life guided by strong faith, quiet strength, and unwavering integrity. Calm, warm, and personable, she was a source of wisdom and counsel to many.

She fell in love with country music in high school after discovering Hank Williams and cherished the music of Waylon Jennings and Merle Haggard. Later in life, one of her favorite songs was “Harvest Moon” by Neil Young, which she loved slow dancing to with her husband Jim. A prolific and gifted writer, Charlene documented her travels and life experiences and wrote letters of guidance and encouragement to her children and others she loved. She had a rare ability to make everyone feel seen, valued, and deeply loved.
Charlene loved traveling with Jim, family, and friends, visiting Ireland, Italy, England, and other parts of Europe. She especially treasured trips to see her children and grandchildren across the country, including the Eastern Shore, the Grand Canyon, Seattle, Banff, Asheville, Hawaii, Key West, New York, Arizona, and Boston. Most of all, she cherished time spent at the family’s summer home in Ocean City, New Jersey, where generations gathered for decades of treasured memories.

Active and deeply involved in her community, Charlene volunteered at school activities and sporting events. She and Jim were devoted members of St. John Chrysostom Church in Wallingford, PA for 57 years.

Relatives and friends are invited to Charlene’s viewing on Friday, January 30, 2026, from 9:30 AM to 10:45 AM, at St. John Chrysostom Church, located at 617 S. Providence Road, Wallingford, PA 19086, followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 11:00 AM.

Interment will immediately follow at Saints Peter and Paul Cemetery in Springfield, PA.

Donations can be made to Live Like Livy Inc., the foundation the family has formed in memory of Charlene’s beloved granddaughter, Olivia. www.livelikelivy.com