Obituary of Eileen May Shonaman

It is with broken hearts that the family of Eileen Shonaman, beloved wife of Mel Shonaman, announces her passing on Thursday, March 14, 2024, at the Saint John Regional Hospital. Eileen was born on June 21, 1950, in Saint John, NB, and was the daughter of the late Norman and Mildred (Vail) Wood.

Eileen will be remembered for her vivacious spirit. She certainly knew how to brighten any room she walked into. She was a hard working and caring mother who sacrificed so much for others. Anyone who has had the pleasure of dining with Eileen knows, she was an amazing cook. Her Christmas meat pies were legendary and her tradition of having them for Christmas morning breakfast has become a family tradition reaching far and wide. Eileen enjoyed cooking for her family so much, she would often be found up in the middle of the night baking her legendary bread. She was a strong woman who was independent and spoke her mind. She was also a loving wife to her husband Mel and they would have been married 36 years this June. Together they shared a lifetime of love with each other and their children.

She is survived by her husband, Mel Shonaman; sons, Edward (Natasha) and John (Susann) Gautreau; daughters, Lorraine (Wes Toby) Gautreau and Peggy (Robert) Pierce; brothers, Don (Sandra) and Gerald (Nancy) Wood; grandchildren: Katie, Jessica, Kelsey, Ayron, Eric, Ryan, Andrea, Karrie, Dilon, Natalie, John, Adam and Daniel; great-grandchildren: Evan, Jackson, Jillian, Marc, Leo and Charlotte; dear friend and roommate at Kings Way Care Centre, Laura; as well as many nieces and nephews. Eileen was predeceased by her parents; her sister, Frances Waycott and her great-grandson James Taylor.

Resting at Kennebecasis Funeral Home, 152 Pettingill Rd. Quispamsis, NB, (506-849-2119), with visiting on Saturday, March 16 from 2:00-4:00 PM and 6:00-8:00 PM, and Sunday, March 17, 2024, from 2:00-4:00 PM and 6:00-8:00 PM. A funeral liturgy will be held from Kennebecasis Funeral Home Chapel on Monday, March 18, 2024, at 11:00 AM. Interment will take place at a later date in Ocean View Memorial Gardens. For those who wish donations to the Kidney Foundation would be appreciated by the family.