her life and telling her husband he would never see his son again

Authorities were sent to her Shrewsbury Township,

Police claim that Sheri Shermeyer, 40, suffocated her 12-month-old son John and then shot herself

A Pennsylvania mother suffocated her infant son and then shot herself in the head in a murder-suicide the day after Christmas according to police.

The body of Sheri Shermeyer was discovered by authorities on Monday afternoon inside her Shrewsbury Township home, dead from what police believe was a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

Police say the woman also used a pillow to intentionally suffocate her 12-month-old son, who appears to have died of asphyxiation.

Tragedy: Police claim that Sheri Shermeyer, 40, suffocated her 12-month-old son John and then shot herself dead in a murder-suicide (Sheri, John and John's father above)

Horrible: She appeared to post a Facebook message on Monday morning threatening to take her life and telling her husband he would never see his son (above on Christmas morning) again

Too late: Authorities were sent to Sheri's Shrewsbury Township, Pennsylvania home on a welfare check Monday afternoon

The bodies of the two were discovered when police were sent to the home on a welfare check after Shermeyer, 40, appeared to post a note on her Facebook page threatening to take her own life.

'I always thought of myself to be a strong person. I've been through Hell and back and still had a smile. I've lost too many people; family, friends, pets, jobs etc. But as of late I don't feel so strong,' read the Facebook message.

'I have been slowly dying inside. I'm confused, just torn down, hardly ever go out in public anymore, don't socialize with people, I've become a hermit.

'I feel that the ONLY thing I have to live for is this little guy asleep in my arms right now, John. He is the only reason why I haven't blown my head off right now.

'And even now, all I can think about is leaving this world. Putting a gun in my mouth and leaving.

'Which is what is going to happen.

The message went on to say: 'I'm tired of being told the grass is greener somewhere else, tired of crying.'

It also later addressed the young boy's father, stating: 'You will never see your son again. You don't deserve to have a son, to have a legacy.'

Sheri also changed her Facebook cover photo on Christmas to read: 'Sometimes what you're most afraid of doing is the very thing that will set you free.'

She had posted smiling photos of her son in the days before, but also written on Facebook on Christmas Eve: 'Grief never ends... but it changes. It's a passage, not a place to stay. Grief is not a sign of weakness nor a lack of faith... It is the price of love.'

Sheri posted a suicide-prevention phone number on her page last month as well, writing: 'A simple copy and paste might save someone's life.'