Dawn Sheehan

Free spirited, loving, with a wonderful sense of humor, Dawn Sheehan’s personality shone like a beacon – bright and dazzling for all to see. A model of devotion and love, she always put her children above all else, knowing that nothing was more important than the love of family. Vivacious full of life, Dawn filled a room with her presence and left a lasting impression on everyone she met.

The 1960s marked a shift from the idyllic innocence of the previous decade into a slow burn of social unrest in our nation’s history. Protest movements were at the forefront of discussion as more and more U.S. troops headed for Vietnam. However, despite the looming problems within the American society, people still needed to have fun. It was the golden age of drive-in theaters and the Beatles owned the top of the charts. It was into these changing times that Dawn was born on February 15, 1960, in Grand Rapids, Michigan, to William and Mary (DeBree) Sheehan. Although her parents were overjoyed with her arrival, it was also a day marked by great sorrow as they buried their son, Thomas, who died very young.

The youngest of three, Dawn and her older brother, Michael, grew up in their family home on the southeast side of Grand Rapids. However, just before Dawn was school age, the family moved to Comstock Park, and it was here she received her education in the area schools. Dawn was always so full of life and had such a bubbly personality that endeared everyone to her. Yet, she also had a mischievous side that got her in trouble a time or two; not to mention the teasing she endured from her brother.

Early on, Dawn came to love being outdoors, especially on a warm sandy beach by the water. Her family often went camping at Grand Haven, where she loved to swim and be a beach bum. They also vacationed many times at Torch Lake and it was here that Dawn experienced boating for the first time with her grandfather and learned to fish. Her passion for the water only grew over the years, especially after her stepfather bought a boat, which became like a summer home for Dawn. She found great peace and tranquility on the boat and riding the water, a place she often came to in times of strife. In later years, Dawn would bring her children to the lake during the summer and would spend nights on the boat. But Dawn was at home by any kind of water, including the pool in her community, of which she was in charge of for many years.

After high school, Dawn’s life took a new direction when she was blessed with the birth of her first child, a son she named Daniel. She rounded out her family some time later with the births of her two daughters, Mary and Molly. Dawn was a wonderful mother, truly devoted to the needs of her children. Being a single mom, though, could some times be tough, so when her good friend and neighbor, Yvonne Adriaansen, needed a roommate, Dawn and her children moved in. Not only did this help with finances, since they shared expenses, Dawn found great support and friendship in Yvonne, who also became greatly involved in her children’s lives. Dawn took great pride in keeping their house clean and always kept the family well fed with her good cooking.

Like in her youth, Dawn was a pretty carefree and easygoing mom, who simply enjoyed spending time with her kids. Her motherly love was like a magnet to many of the neighborhood kids who she often babysat. It wasn’t unusual for there to be 2 to 10 extra kids running around the house, but it was never chaotic because Dawn had a way of keeping them all occupied and content. It was never a chore for her to care for the kids, because she loved them all the same. In addition to kids, Dawn had a soft spot for animals, especially dogs and cats, and there wasn’t a stray she could turn away. In the brief moments she had to herself, Dawn enjoyed painting and doing arts and crafts. She only traveled out of state once when she took an unforgettable trip to Mexico with her mom, stepfather, daughters and Yvonne.

For a number of years, Dawn suffered with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), a lung disease that makes it difficult to breathe. Because of complications to this disease, she spent lots of time in hospitals and sadly away from her family. In 2007, Dawn’s illness became too much to handle and she went to live at Heartland Health Care, where she could receive the constant care she needed. This was very hard for Dawn because she could no longer go to the boat in the summer and enjoy the water, but above all, she was away from her children, whom she loved and missed dearly.

Dawn Sheehan was a vibrant and energetic soul with boundless love for her family. She will be greatly missed.

Dawn M. Sheehan, (Mullins), passed away on Monday, March 31, 2008. She was preceded in death by her brother, Thomas. Dawn is survived by her children: Daniel, Mary and Molly Sheehan; her mother, Mary (Jerry) Gray; her father, William (Connie) Sheehan; her brother, Michael (Pamela) Sheehan; and step brothers and sisters: Scott (Haylea) Gray, Cynthia (John) Hickman, Kristine Gray; and her longtime friend, Yvonne Adriaansen. At Dawn’s request, cremation has taken place and a private service will be held at a later date. Friends and relatives are invited to visit with her family at the Heritage Life Story Funeral Home – Van Strien, Creston Chapel, 1833 Plainfield NE, Grand Rapids, on Thursday, April 3, from 2-4 and 7-9 p.m. For those who wish, memorial contributions may be made to Heartland Hospice. Please visit Dawn’s memory page at www.lifestorynet.com where you may share a memory with her family or sign her online guest book.