Sharon Lee Bilanda Steffen was born on July 17, 1953, in Chicago, IL. She attended Saints Peter and Paul Catholic School and graduated from Aquinas Dominican High School in Chicago in 1971. She was employed as a legal secretary and administrative assistant by the international law firm of Mayer Brown in downtown Chicago from 1971 through March of 2017.

She had been married to Don Steffen, with whom she lived in Glen Ellyn. In later years, she moved to Winfield. She took a variety of courses at the College of DuPage, including photography and landscape design.

Sharon had a great love of animals, especially cats, having rescued many over the years. She was an avid gardener and gourmet cook and dabbled in astrology. She worked part-time for several years at Chico's, using her talents to help her clients develop their own styles. Her whimsical nature was evident in her charming home décor as well as her love of anything relating to Harley-Davidson.

She was predeceased by her parents (Adam Bilanda and Charlotte Balzhiser Bilanda) as well as her ex-husband Don. Survivors include her brother Rick (Anne) Balzhiser of Stephens City, VA; as well as numerous nieces, nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews. Sharon shared a special bond of love and affection with them and delighted in viewing their exploits via Facebook.

A Memorial Service will be held on Tuesday, July 23, 2019, at 11 am at Hultgren Funeral Home, 304 N. Main Street, Wheaton, IL. Private interment will be in the Holy Cross Cemetery in Calumet City at a later date.

Contributions will be appreciated to one of her favorite charities, Paws Chicago at http://www.pawschicago.org/how-to-help/donate/