She is survived by her husband, Lee; her son, Joseph Barela and his fiance, Clementine; her adopted daughter, Amy Toney; her grandchildren Aurora, Oliver, Avery, and Kaison; her father, Tom Barela and his wife, Beverly, her brother Tommy Barela and his wife, Leslie; her sister, Amanda Wilson, and her husband, Jeff; her sister, Michele Carrillo and her husband, Nolberto; her sister, Julie Hawkins Kirkley; her first cousins, Lisa Marie Kojakanian and her husband Alex; Angela Gosselin and her husband, Lance; Sonya Garcia and her husband, Marcial; Lindsay Hockett and her husband, Sam; Coleen Barela along with many other cousins, nieces, nephews, and beloved friends.
It was evident, even as a child, that Shawna was meant to be a light in people's lives. She was defined by her acts of loving kindness and her generous heart. Along with her ability to light up a room, she brought a sense of energy, joy, and brightness that was noticeable and appreciated by those around her. She loved being with friends and dancing the night away. She took pride in her ability to have authentic friendships, free of judgment, where she could support them in any way. She was the "sister" everyone needed.
Her loving heart was further evidenced by her immense passion for dogs. Her life was spent "oohing" and "aweing" over any dog she saw. As a postal worker, the neighborhood dogs would follow her along her route and she would return them to their homes before leaving the area. She volunteered her time to transport dogs to rescues and their forever homes. She had a special affinity for pitbulls. She felt they were misunderstood and welcomed them into her home.
Her purest joy was her son, daughters, and grandchildren. She and Joseph had a special bond that is beyond words. She often reflected on what a blessing it was to have such a close relationship with her son. This love overflowed into her grandchildren. Her beautiful granddaughters, Aurora and Avery; and her grandson's, Kaison and "Ollie Bear" were her joy.
Shawna was greeted by her mom, her grandma, other family members, and her precious dogs when she returned "home".
If you would like to contribute to her Memorial Fund please donate to her Go Fund Me page.
https://gofund.me/d28dc263