Remembering my aunt
A final tribute to Shawn Lois Dilney
Whitney Pier is mourning the loss of beloved cook and early childhood educator Shawn Lois Dilney at age 60.
Born and raised in Sydney, N.S., Shawn worked at the Whitney Pier Daycare for over 30 years as a cook and early childhood educator. Everyone who attended the daycare can remember her great food and bright smile. Dedicating her life to taking care of others, Shawn touched many lives.
At the age of 17 Shawn had her first and only child, a son named Gary Everett Lawrence. She was a single mother who did the best she could like most parents would for their children. Gary and his partner Kim gave Shawn the greatest gift of all, becoming a grandmother to Riley, Hannah, Ty and Mila and a great grandmother to little Hunter.
Growing up, I have so many fond memories of my aunt Shawn. I attended the Whitney Pier Daycare as a child and of course all I can remember is her amazing food and her experiments in the kitchen. As a preteen I would always call and ask if she was driving the daycare van, so I could drive around with her dropping off the daycare kids.
I remember the many sleepovers we had, the ceramic and tole painting classes she took me to, driving around looking at Christmas lights and living with her twice throughout my life. As an adult I even worked with her at the daycare, memories I’ll hold on to and cherish for life.
Shawn had a close relationship with her youngest sister, my mom Wanda. They laughed together, cried together and shared many secrets and stories with each other. Besides being my aunt, she was also mine, my brother Tevon and my sister Kahli’s godmother. Shawn was a daughter, mother, grandmother, great grandmother, sister, aunt, cousin and friend. She will be greatly missed.
On behalf of my family, I want to say thank you to all the amazing people in our lives who were, are and will continue to be a strong support system for us in this difficult time. Whether you called, visited, dropped off food, sent messages, cards, baskets, flowers, money, or just simply made us laugh. Thank You!
“To the Cape Breton Regional Hospital, particularly the ICU staff, especially Shawn’s nurses Blair Roach, Charlynn Cox and Wayne Fraser. The care and compassion you showed Shawn and our family was remarkable. It really takes a special kind of person to be a nurse. To all the ER staff, the nurses and Dr. Fuller, thank you all from the bottom of our hearts.”
We’d also like to thank the Pier Community Funeral Home for assisting us in celebrating the life of my aunt Shawn Lois Dilney.
‘Remember me, all the great memories, my smile, my laugh, my humor, my sass. My Whitney Pier daycare days, all the children I’ve raised, so many bums I’ve seen and changed. Sleepovers with Shawnie, Christmas eve parties, all the celebrations we had, we shared many laughs. Ceramic and tole painting classes, my passion for fashion, blasting this little light of mine, I was one of a kind.
The amazing food I’ve made, the lives I’ve changed, camping on the back deck, memories you’ll never forget.
The love I gave, the great friends I’ve made, the 60 years I’ve lived, I had a lot more to give. God needed me, so he set my spirit free, I received my beautiful angel wings. It’s okay to cry, but this isn’t goodbye. Don’t hold your head down, I’ll be watching all around, I’m your guardian angel now. Family, I’m finally home, in heaven at the throne, keep me in your heart and you’ll never be alone. Remember me, your Shawnie.’
Robyn Martelly grew up in the diverse community of Whitney Pier, a Canadian heritage site. She’s a contributing author, and a self-taught artist. Her column Pier Dear appears monthly in the Cape Breton Post. She can be reached by email at martelly.robyn@gmail.com or through her Facebook page Martelly Art.