Tuesday, August 28, 2012

My beloved brother: Shawn Cavanagh


My beloved brother Shawn Cavanagh
Sept 28th 1965 - August 26 2012

On Sunday, August 26, 2012 at the Oakville-Trafalgar Memorial Hospital in his 47th year.
Shawn, beloved husband of Elizabeth Dalzell. Devoted father of Graeme. Cherished brother of Danny, Alanna, Kelly, Lisa and Lori. Beloved son of the late Lenore and Leo Cavanagh and dear uncle to his nieces and nephews.

An avid long-distance runner and a dedicated elementary school teacher, Shawn touched the lives of his colleagues, students and friends with his humour, commitment and compassion.  
He will be in our hearts forever. 

For those who wish - memorial contributions may be made to CAMH, Oakville-Trafalgar Memorial Hospital Foundation, or Knox Presbyterian Church, Oakville.
Visitation
Wed August 29th 
3-5 and 7-9 pm

Kopriva Taylor Community Funeral Home
64 Lakeshore Road West
Oakville 
905-844-2600
Funeral service
Thursday August 30, 2012
11am
Knox Presbyterian Church
89 Dunn St., Oakville

Condolences can be left at www.koprivataylor.com



27 comments:

Katya said...

I am so sorry to hear of the loss of your brother. I'm just a blog fan but please know I'm sending prayers your way.
Peace be with you, Kate

Alanna Cavanagh said...

Thank you so very much Kate.

A Perfect Gray said...

alanna, my thoughts and prayers are with you and your family. donna

Isabella said...

One of the first things I do in the morning is check your blog, my heart broke a little today. I hope you and your family find peace in this sad time. Isabel

Mary deB said...

Alanna, I'm so sorry to hear this!

Plum Home + Design said...

I am so sorry for your loss, words won't be enough at a time like this.

Karen J said...

Another blog fan that checks in from time to time...so sad for you and your family. My thoughts are with you, Karen

M. said...

I am so so sorry -- he was far too young and this is far too sad. You will be in my thoughts, and I wish there was something that we (your well-meaning readers) could do to help...

Lisa Mackay said...

I am so sorry to read this, you must be heart-broken. I wish you strength.

Laura said...

What a tremendous loss. Sending peace and strength your way along with lots of love.

Alanna Cavanagh said...

Thanks Everyone so very much for your comments.
Your messages are very comforting to me at this very painful time. Shawn was truly the best brother I could ever have asked for and we were extremely close.

carolyn said...

Alanna -- So very sorry to hear about the loss of your brother. Sending you love and hugs across the Net at this difficult time. xo

Unknown said...

My deepest sympathies Alanna - from one sister who lost a brother to another.
Jeff and Shawn were very good friends and I have such warm memories of Shawn.
This past weekend Julie brought a box of Jeff's photos to a family gathering and many of the photos included Shawn. As a result, he was very much on my mind. I was shocked to learn this news this morning from my mother. I understand your loss. Please pass on my thoughts to your very special family!

Alanna Cavanagh said...

Dear Brenda
Thanks so much for writing. It is almost unthinkable that our brothers who loved each other dearly and lived life so vibrantly in university would both end up taking their own lives. Thanks for reaching out.
Love,from one sister who lost a brother to another

Rocio said...

Dear Alanna,
Our thoughts and prayers are with you and your family in these sad times. Much love from the Robledos in Spain

Carole Reid said...

May your memories of your brother bring a smile to your face.

Tonya Long said...

1I am so sorry for your loss. I used to work with Shawn at Garthwood, he was an amazing soul. Try to remember all the wonderdul memories you had with your brother and try to stay strong. You and your family are in my thoughts.

Tonya Long

Unknown said...

I am so sorry Alanna. My heart sunk a little more when I read your message. There really are no words - except that I know how you are feeling. Here is my email: cormierb@videotron.ca. I would love to keep in touch. XO

Unknown said...

I am so heartbroken for all who loved this wonderful fellow. I think that the loss of people who are integral threads in the tapestry of one's life is without question THE most difficult challenge a person can face. It seems to get harder before it gets easier...Sometimes it is so very difficult to focus on what one has gained, rather than what one has lost, from knowing and loving people such as our beloved, hilarious, well-read, gentle, kind, thoughtful, mercilessly self-deprecating, highly intelligent and incredibly witty,... Shawn, who was, I think, "One of Earth's best". My family spent innumerable hours with him and his family for a few years. I loved him and will miss him forever and ever and always. i thought we had more time. I had no idea the hourglass was running out. I am so sorry for this terrible and tragic loss of such a wonderful man. The blueprint of his character was unique and wondrous.

Unknown said...

Alanna, I am so sorry for your loss. My thoughts and prayers are with you. Kristin V

shane said...

I'm so so sorry for your loss, Alanna. You are in my thoughts... Shane

debbie powell said...

Im so Sorry to hear about your brother Alanna, I'm sending my thoughts and well wishes to you and your family.

Unknown said...

I just heard the news Alanna - so sorry to hear. You and your (and Shawn's) family are in my thoughts. I am sure he will be missed be a lot of people.

Emma said...

Oh gosh, I'm so sorry Alana. Thinking of you and sending you a warm, healing hug. Emma

Unknown said...

Wow - very touching and I also send my love and thoughts your way! Five years ago today my brother Ryan Emmerson took his own life, and we miss him immeasurably!

Be strong - they are cheering us on!

Tiger said...

Mr.Cavanagh was my second grade teacher. He was honestly my favourite in life. I always thought about going back and visiting Garthwood to mainly see Mr.Cavanagh. He had so much confidence in me.He involved me in lots leadership type roles as a little kid. I still remember to this day a number of stories from my childhood about him. He even send me a postcard when I was a kid. My brother just recently found out about this news. I'm now sitting in a university class trying to contain myself. Mr.Cavanagh you 100% affected my life for the better. I wish I could have had visited earlier.

Huda said...

I never had the opportunity to truly mourn Mr. Cavanagh, I was long gone from Garthwood but his death taught me that life isn't fair. 8 years later and I still think about him, he was my 3rd grade teacher, my cross country coach and one of the nicest sweetest men I have ever come across. I remember how he would spend the mornings talking about his son and his hockey games, his son should know how much he talked about him at school even when the students were misbehaving and no one was listening. He loved him so much. Can't lie, our grade 3 class gave him hell sometimes but he never broke from his character to react badly, he rewarded us even when we didn't deserve it and it makes me want to cry sometimes when I think about how genuinely nice he was, I will remember his spirit throughout my life. I wish I could visit him cause I know he would be so proud of the person I am today.