Shannon Lee Meara was a beautiful, kind and compassionate young woman. As a child, her infectious smile and golden blonde curls drew attention wherever she went. It was her shy but engaging personality, however, that endeared her to everyone who knew her. During her teen years, Shannon volunteered at church as a CCD teacher and was able to connect with young people because of her accepting and non-judgmental nature.
Shannon was a graduate of Woburn High School and attended Suffolk University. She was interested in various world cultures and was particularly dedicated to furthering the cause of human rights. To pursue this goal, she had enrolled in classes to complete her law degree.
However, Shannon was never able to fulfill her goals. On January 18, 2008, she was murdered by a gunshot wound to the head by an ex-boyfriend. Her body was found in a dumpster two days later.
Shannon was only 24 years old at the time of her death. Shannon will be forever loved and missed by all who knew her.
A quote from her MySpace page, which has been engraved on her headstone, is a message to us all: "Life’s too short. Take life one day at a time... tomorrow’s never promised".