Obituary of Sheryl Van Houten

Sheryl Van Houten, 70, of Milford, PA passed away, Tuesday, March 19, 2024, at Lehigh Valley Cedar Crest Hospital in Allentown, PA. Sheryl was a college professor at Sussex County Community College, in Newton, New Jersey.

Her friends and loved ones affectionately called her “Sherri.” She enjoyed dancing, teaching, writing romance novels, playing with her pets, and she especially loved her Hubby, Ells! Sherri felt deeply that all people should act in the spirit of loving brotherhood. She firmly believed that to achieve peace, we need tolerance, which is acquired through awareness. Her mantra was "Nobody pulls my strings, and nobody clips my wings."  Sherri was the founder of a nonprofit belly dance troupe called “The Champagne Girls.”  The troupe performed at the NJ State Fair, and other venues in New Jersey. All money raised was donated to charitable organizations, such as DASI (Domestic Assault & Sexual Abuse Intervention Services), various homeless shelters, and food banks. The troupe also visited nursing homes to entertain residents.

The daughter of the late Natalino and Dolores (DeLisa) Pavone, she was born April 17, 1953, in Paterson, New Jersey.

Sheryl leaves behind her husband Ellsworth Van Houten. She was predeceased by her brother Ronald “Ronnie” Pavone. 

A viewing will be held at Stroyan Funeral Home, 405 West Harford St., Milford, PA on Tuesday, March 26, 2024, from 12 to 1 PM. Funeral services will be held at the funeral home on Tuesday, March 26, 2024, at 1 PM with Rev. Neils Nielsen officiating. Burial will follow in Milford Cemetery, Milford, PA.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.

Arrangements by Stroyan Funeral Home, 405 West Harford St., Milford, PA (www.stroyanfuneralhome.com).