Shawn touched the lives of so many different people. She left an indescribable impact on every person she came in contact with. Below, we will share the eulogies given at Shawn’s services by various people she left her mark on. These people all knew her at different stages in her life and all had different relationships with her, yet her impact remained remarkable. We hope you enjoy reading these and learning about Shawn through different eyes.

Caroline Kawabe

The following eulogy was given by Shawn's oldest daughter, Caroline, at her memorial service on June 2, 2022.

Everyone who knows me knows that I love my mom.  And even without knowing me, if you have ever interacted with my mom, you know why.

My mom was the best person in the entire world.  She was an angel.  Though we tend to use that word casually, all of you here today know that that is without a doubt true.  My mom was kind to everyone.  Those she knew well, those she had just met, and just about everyone in between.

My mom always encouraged me to keep writing, and I love writing.  But I have never been at such a loss for words.  These were probably the most difficult words I have ever had to write, not just because of my own emotions, but because of the weight that these words hold.  How do you describe someone so beyond belief?  So magnificent.  How do you describe someone like my mom in 5 minutes?  You can't.  There are no words to fully embody the beauty, inside and out, of my mom.  The only words to describe someone that incredible are Shawn Elizabeth.

Last summer my mom had her second brain surgery.  This one was up at UCLA, and she remained in the hospital for a bit over a week after the surgery.  So, I would drive up and down everyday to see her.  As I walked into her hospital room each morning, the first thing she always said to me was “Hi!  Oh my gosh I am so happy to see you, I love you!” and towards the end of our visit, one of the last things she would always say was “Caroline, you should get home before the traffic gets bad or before it gets too dark!” — “I don’t want anything to happen to you!”  This woman had just come out of her second brain surgery — over 6 hours long — in less than a year, and the thing she was always most worried about was my trip home.  Everyday she would ask how I was doing, everyday she would check in on me, everyday she would ask for updates about my life, everyday she was worried about my health and safety, every day she made sure to tell me how much she loved me.  That was just my mom.  She takes the idea of selflessness to an entirely different level.

Though nothing in my mom’s eyes compared to Twilight, amidst the hype, we watched the Divergent series.  And when we did, we would all immediately start placing ourselves in the different factions.  I was Amity, Cat was Dauntless, and my mom was without a doubt Abnegation.  For those of you who have never watched Divergent, Abnegation is the faction of the “selfless.”  And that’s exactly what she was.  Everything she did, she did for others.  The ways she drove my sister and I everywhere, and for a few years two different schools.  She was at every sporting event, every concert, every doctor’s appointment — no matter how long the travel was, or how many cars got broken into.  Whenever I had a bad day at school, or was feeling sick, or maybe just did not feel too good about my math test next period — just kidding — my mom would always drop everything to come and help me.  I am sorry for all the brunches you had to miss, mom… but at least I am in college!  Through everything, from raising two teenage daughters to fighting a grade four brain tumor, not once over the course of the past two years — or frankly my entire life — did I ever hear her complain.  Not one negative comment.  Not one woes me.  Not one ounce of self-pity resided within Shawn Elizabeth Kawabe.

Some of my favorite memories of my entire life take place with my mom at the Someone Cares Soup Kitchen in Costa Mesa.  I am not writing that for a college essay, or for NCL hours, I am saying it because it is true.  There was something about the soup kitchen that was truly magical.  The way that my mom interacted with each and every person who came through that door was astonishing.  She greeted everyone with the same kindness she would greet her best friends if they walked through the front door of her own home.  My mom was a woman of actions.  She practiced exactly what she preached, and oftentimes she did not even have to preach it.  Her kindness was so strong, so vibrant, so apparent, that I am convinced anyone graced by her presence became a kinder, more enlightened soul.  My mom showed me what being a good person looks like.  She inspired me to want to be more like her every day.  She was inspiring, she was a light, she was the epitome of sunshine.  She was my everything.

She was my best friend.  She is my best friend.  And I know she was many other people’s best friends too.  That was the beauty of my mom.  She had this amazing energy and way about her that just absolutely gravitated everyone she ever met towards her.  No matter who it was, where they were, or when they met, every person she interacted with was drawn to her.  I could tell you it was because she was undoubtedly the most beautiful person any of us have ever met, or because her kindness is unwavering, but it was everything about her.  She was special, she was one-of-a-kind, she was an angel on earth.  And now she is an angel in heaven.  She is with God, watching over, and looking out for each and every one of us.  I feel so incredibly grateful to have spent the past 18 years with the most beautiful, bright, and beloved best friend, guardian angel, and mom by my side.  And I know that she will always be by my side, for the rest of my life, and beyond.

Thank you mom, for everything.  I love you with all that I am.

Catherine Kawabe

The following eulogy was given by Shawn's youngest daughter, Catherine, at her memorial service on June 2, 2022.

My mom was the most selfless and caring person I have ever known. In 2012 when I was about 6 years old my mom, aunt, sister, cousins, and I went to see the movie brave. I don't know if guys are familiar with that movie but the main plot is the mom turns into a bear and the daughter tries to save her. The idea of losing my mom at that age was unimaginable. I cried so much my mom had to take me out of the movie theater. She told me she would never leave me and assured me we were safe and ok. After that I felt a sense of security and comfort, that my mom would be by my side forever. I think she made a lot of  people feel like that. She gave people a feeling of comfort and that when they were talking to her it was free of judgment which I think is a quality not many people have. She was so genuine it was easy to trust and confide in her.  She truly showed me not only what it means to be a wonderful mother, but a caring sister, and a supportive friend.

With her sister Leslie she was always calm and ready to listen. Which taught me patience and the meaning of being supportive. With her friends she was always upbeat and Funny, which taught me how to be optimistic in hard situations. Without these qualities I don't think I would have been able to get through this past year and a half. She was optimistic and positive, even when the rest of us maybe weren’t. She was selfless, even when she was in the hospital she still asked me if I was ok. She was and will continue to be my inspiration and role model. A couple months before she passed I came to my mom in distress. I told her I was scared. Scared of being alone and scared of her not being with me.  She  then said the same thing she said to me 10 years ago in the movie theater, that she would never leave me and she would be by my side forever. I never really understood how right she really was. Even though she isn’t here today I still feel that same comfort and security she always gave me. I know that no matter what she will always be with me and by my side. In these last few days I've felt my mom through other people.

My best friend sophie who is standing here next to me can somehow read my mind, just like my mom used to. My mom used to know exactly what I needed sometimes even before I did, sophies the same way. Without me even asking sophie’s at my door with a cross and a bottle of wine for my dad. And for that I want to  thank you to sophie and the rest of my friends. To caroline. I don't know if any of you know but this amazing service would have happened without the work of my beautiful sister. Caroline has embodied my mom not only by her beautiful looks but by being a role model to me and everyone else that looks up to her.  I know leaving for college wasn’t easy, but mom was so proud of you, and I know she would be even prouder of the person that you are today. Yo0ur actions are truly a reflection of the amazing person mom was. For that I thank you. To my dad, it has been truly eye opening watching you take care of mom this past year. You take sickness and health to a whole new level. I know mom is looking down with a smile knowing me and Caroline are in good hands. And for that I thank you. Dear Mom, I'm so thankful for everything you showed me,  all the time we spent together, and the memories we made. I know you will always be with me. I will love you forever. Love Catheine. Thank you

Carl Kawabe

The following eulogy was given by Shawn's husband, Carl, at her memorial service on June 2, 2022.

We know that you are all very busy, so thank you for taking the time to honor and say goodbye to Shawn. She wanted you all to have a nice view during her funeral, hence this beautiful church here in Dana Point. Even in passing, Shawn thought about other people.

22 years ago, I thought working up the courage to propose to Shawn was the toughest thing I'd ever have to do, but I'm pretty sure preparing and delivering this eulogy is way tougher. I've cried more in the past two weeks than I have in my entire life. (My mom might disagree with that statement and say I cried a lot as a baby, but l have never believed her.) So just in case I lose it, my long time great friend Scott Ritchie is here to sub in. He's taller, better looking, and wealthier than me. We really do have a lot in common; we both like golf.

My memory seems to get worse with each passing day, yet I clearly remember the day I met Shawn. I remember she had this wonderful smile and I remember thinking to myself wow this girl is really beautiful (why she was talking to me, I still have no clue, and I'm pretty sure her friends and mine are still scratching their heads. Father Steve over there saying “Amen, brother”). But I also remembered the old cliche, beauty is only skin deep. However, in Shawn's case, beauty embodied all of her being. In fact, in the days, weeks, and years that followed meeting her, I learned that as beautiful as Shawn was on the outside, she was even more beautiful on the inside.

Last year during one of our numerous drives to a medical treatment, the topic of regrets came up between Shawn and me. Shawn said, “I have many regrets.”  “Really?”  I said. Shawn went on to say “I've always tried to treat people the way I wished to be treated, no matter who they were, but I think I could have been nicer and I could have treated people better.”  I chuckled and said, “Shawn you sound like the kid who got 99 on a test but beats herself up over not getting 100.” You've treated people better than anyone I've ever known. You scored 99, and I'm pretty sure no one else even scored 85, heck I got 27. Yet, I would expect no less of Shawn, because loving and treating people right was of utmost importance to her. It’s what her mother, Joanne, taught her and what her faith reinforced. So, if anyone here in attendance feels Shawn was not nice or treated you poorly, just know that she sincerely regretted it.

Does anyone know a person who cries at the most mundane parts of a movie? That was Shawn. A little dog would get a thorn in its paw and Shawn would cry. I can't tell you how many times watching a movie I would say to her “Are you really crying over that?” Yet, over the past 20 months while battling a disease with no cure and a median survival rate of less than 1 year, I never saw her cry. I don't know about you all, but I'm pretty sure if I’m ever put in the same position, I’m crying. (My mom is over there nodding her head). Shawn was very comfortable with her own mortality and consistently told people not to worry about her. She even said to her dad just days before passing “I'm not afraid.” Shawn was a very sensitive and loving young lady, yet tough as nails when she needed to be.

Thanks to her parents, Shawn had a terrific sense of humor. She was able to laugh at herself and see humor in life's little things. After our wedding, Shawn used to laugh at her new name. She would introduce herself to someone and say, “hi my name is Shawn E. Kawabe, he he he.” And she could belly laugh with the best of them. When working from home, I would hear Shawn belly laughing from across the house. It always brought a smile to my face. She just loved watching Friends, Modern Family, Ted Lasso, Big Bang Theory, Saturday Night Live, and Schitts Creek. When she was bedridden over the past few months, and if I had to leave her alone for a few minutes to work or run some errands, I'd turn on the TV and ask her what she wanted to watch.

“Put on something funny,” she always said. I even think Shawn had circled Friday the 13th on her calendar as her day to go. Now, bear in mind she was kind enough to get past Thursday the 12th, which was our 21st wedding anniversary. After all, what kind of message does it convey if she'd passed away on our wedding anniversary? But I can just see Shawn sitting around a table with a bunch of her other Angel buddies and asking… “So when did you pass?” “June 20th,” “October 19th.” “How about you Shawn, when did you pass?” “I passed on Friday the 13th, isn't that funny? How can my husband possibly forget that date, he he he!”

Shawn even managed to laugh when things really weren't that funny.... she always laughed at my jokes. (Shawn I'm really going to miss you.)

Shawn cared a lot about people and always saw the best in them. And if she didn't have anything good to say about someone, then she just didn't say anything. If we were driving and someone cut us off, I'd be doing all kinds of hand gestures, yelling inappropriate things, and looking for something to throw (yes, my kids say I have road rage issues), but Shawn would say, “I'm sure he didn't see you and if he had I'm sure he wouldn't have done it.” That was Shawn, she always loved and believed the best in people. Over the past three weeks, whenever l have found myself getting perturbed by someone or something, I have said to myself, “What would Shawn say?” And, it's helped me calm down and reevaluate my perspective… and not say or do what I was originally thinking. Shawn was truly an Angel, and as several of my friends have been quick to point out recently, the fact that she put up with me for these past 22 years probably fast tracks her to Sainthood as well.

The outpouring of love and support for Shawn since first getting sick 20 months ago has truly been heart warming. I used to say to Shawn, “you know, a lot of people really love you and care about you.” She would say “I feel it, I really, really do.” So thank you all, you made a big difference and helped her fight as hard as she did.

Leslie, Joanne, Hugh - Shawn loved you all very, very much. Caroline & Catherine - your mom was so very proud of each of you and loved you more than you can ever imagine. I hope you continue to make her proud and just know that she'll always be watching over you with unconditional love and support.

Shawn - I will always love you.