On The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City, Whitney Rose opened up about her friend Shari Quai’s death and how the devastating loss had ultimately led to her connecting with Season 7 newcomer Ashley Quai, who also happens to be Shari’s sister-in-law.
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After Ashley, better known as Quai, joined the group at Lisa Barlow’s ski day in RHOSLC Season 7, Episode 2, Whitney explained to a producer how they knew each other. “I’ve shared a lot of laughs with Quai over the years,” she said, specifically mentioning her parties on the Fourth of July, which was also Shari’s birthday. “I put on a barefoot fireworks show every year. One year, I lit Quai’s sister-in-law Shari on fire, but she was fine.”
Earlier in RHOSLC‘s Sept. 23 episode, Quai had already mentioned that her late sister-in-law was Whitney’s “best friend.” Shari died in April 2023 after battling cancer, and that’s when Quai said she moved to help out her brother, Josh Quai, with his three children.
“I really like Whitney,” Quai added in a confessional. “Whitney continues to show up for my brother and his kids. And through that, I saw who she was: a beautiful woman, stand-up mother.”
Who was Whitney Rose’s friend Shari Quai?
Whitney’s friend Shari was a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA) who founded Utah’s Aive Aesthetics and Wellness med spa after she was diagnosed with stage 4 colorectal cancer, according to her obituary. Shari died at age 40 in April 2023 and is survived by her husband Josh and their three kids.
How long were Whitney Rose and Shari Quai friends?
Previously during RHOSLC Season 4, Whitney explained, “I have known Shari since I was 23 years old, and she’s been to all the major events in my life.”
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Whitney Rose on Shari Quai’s passing
Whitney was filming RHOSLC Season 4 while Shari was “battling cancer,” as she put it on the show. “It’s the most helpless feeling to know that my friend is suffering, and I can’t do anything about it,” she said. “And I have no idea how to cope with that.” Whitney was with Shari just days before she died, and afterward, she opened up about her grief. “I’ve never lost someone that I love this much,” Whitney added.
Whitney shared the news of her friend Shari’s passing with her castmates at a party where drama sparked between her and Lisa. At the time, Whitney was upset that Lisa did not immediately acknowledge her loss. She told Lisa that she was “not OK,” adding, “I need you to hug me, and I need you to acknowledge that I lost my best friend.”
Lisa, for her part, said in a confessional that she didn’t know “how Whitney handles grief,” while explaining why she did not offer her condolences right away. “I don’t know how fragile she is,” she continued. “I did not want to say anything that could upset her.”
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Whitney Rose’s tributes to Shari Quai
Whitney mourned the loss of her friend in April 2023, sharing a tribute to Shari on Instagram. “I write this with tears in my eyes not only because I will miss you deeply Shari but you added so much beauty and love to my life,” Whitney captioned her post. “It is so rare to find a friend like you and I am forever blessed that I did. I love you my soul sister, in this life and beyond. I love you.”
Three months later, Whitney celebrated the Fourth of July with friends, including Shari’s husband and kids. “I spent most of the day in and out of tears,” Whitney wrote, in part, on Instagram, sharing details from their “difficult” and “beautiful” celebration.
Don’t miss Bravo’s guide to the best RHOSLC episodes.
