Sherae Marie O’Shaughnessy
1985-2023

Sherae was brilliant, funny and a runaway train. She was a comedian, a radio host, a column writer and once did a Ted Talk. But like all shooting stars she burned bright and then suddenly burned out. Her death, while tragic, was not unexpected. Sherae dealt with her issues, both personal and mental, with alcohol. Her family tried several times to help her break the cycle, but her addiction was too strong. Sherae lived her life on her own terms, I chose to be in it without judgement rather than to be out of it with judgement. She leaves behind an incredibly sensitive and brilliant daughter who wants to be a zoologist. She will be spending a couple of weeks in Texas this summer learning about donkeys.

I am still trying to process this loss. The one thing that keeps rattling around in my head is “you are not suppose to bury your child”. I talked to Sherae and my granddaughter just before I left for my 2022 Christmas Death Valley trip and she seemed so full of life. I feel fortunate that the last thing I said to her was “I love you”.

The Buddha said “The biggest mistake is that you think you have time…”