Shawnell Parker who in September 2018 crossed the “Rainbow Bridge” was honored in December when the DAWG community held a memorial at Roca Verde. In every community exist a few special souls, people who are “known” by all for what they do; yet “known” by so few for whom they are. In the Costa Ballena, Shawnell Parker was one of those people. Known by all for her work at DAWG, Shawnell was a community leader. Sadly our community lost this amazing woman and iconic warrior for abandoned or injured animals.
Shawnell was an incredible woman with an even more incredible life story. San Francisco born, she travelled and lived in places like Hawaii, Kenya, Lebanon, Munich, Guam, Vienna, Rome, Athens, Australia, Rio, to name a few. As an IBM management consultant, Shawnell felt fortunate to experience the culture of so many unique places.
After years of hard work, Shawnell and her loving husband Tom retired in Costa Rica. Her new life would be cooking, sewing, crafts, community service and evenings with Tom and a bold cabernet. Like all those who are called to a higher purpose, Shawnell was eventually again in the trenches, caring for the animals who needed it the most. All of the rescues she had done in the past, were likely practice for what laid ahead of the (for her) last decade in Costa Rica, president of DAWG.
Shawnell loved her family and her friends. Shawnell adored her seven grandchildren and was a dedicated and loving wife. She loved her fur babies and the joy they gave. Shawnell’s spirit is as real as we are, and it will continue to be present with every act of kindness we show to each other, and every act of tenderness we demonstrate to the animals she loved so much. Shawnell Parker, you will be missed and never forgotten. Please consider volunteering to honor Shawnell and help fill the huge gap. There are endless possibilities.
By Tiff Fenton
CONTACT: Tiff Fenton - Facebook dawg.domesticanimalwelfaregroup/
