AUBURN - Sharon Cerio, of Auburn, was a woman much loved by everyone she met. She was a doting grandmother, a former teacher's aid, a loving wife, and a caring friend.

When she was hospitalized with metastatic lung cancer in May, friends and family began planning a pasta dinner in order to raise money to help with medical expenses.

But tragically, on July 24, Sharon passed away. The family, though grieving, decided to host the dinner anyway, to honor and remember Sharon and to raise money to pay off lingering expenses.

The benefit took place on Sunday at the UNC building on Washington Street, and the turnout was larger than anyone expected.

“She'd be mortified if she knew how many people are here,” said Sharon's husband, Louis Cerio. “She never liked being the center of attention. .. but she was loved by a lot of people.”

DJs Sam and Sheila Giangreco provided the entertainment and tables stacked with door prizes and gift baskets lined the walls, waiting to be raffled off.

Attendees bought tickets, placed bids at the auction and reminisced about Sharon over their pasta.

“She made me a bunny-rabbit cake every year for my birthday with Twizzlers for the whiskers,” laughed nephew Brock Napoli, “She was always making people smile.”

Sharon's cousins Elaine McKee and Carolyn Valentino agreed that she was “a very kind and caring person, and she always thought about others before herself.”

Back in May, they'd been hoping that Sharon would make it home for the benefit, but “her passing took everybody by surprise.”

Snooky Dolan, Sharon's best friend, stood back and surveyed the crowd for a few minutes, smiling, she confidently said, “Sharon is here with us.”