Colleen Ryan Shaw ’97 died on July 21, 2017, in Brunswick, Maine.

(The following was published online at stetsonsfuneralhome.com in July 2017)

Brunswick – Colleen Shaw, age 42, of Barrows Street, died Friday, July 21, at her home in Brunswick. She was born in Worcester, Massachusetts, June 28, 1975, the daughter of Noel and Jeanne Ryan. She attended schools in Athol, Mass. and was a 1993 graduate of Athol High School. Colleen received a bachelor degree in Spanish and education from Bowdoin College in 1997.

On July 11, 1998, she married Todd A. Shaw and proceeded to raise a family with three sweet and talented children. Her devotion to her family and the strength and energy she put into caring for them have served as an inspiration for many that have known her.

Colleen was a beloved Spanish teacher in Freeport and in Camden/Rockport before making the decision to stay at home to raise her three children. Beyond her own kids, Colleen worked taking care of the children of friends during the day. In reality, Colleen took care of everyone she knew every day. In all aspects of her life, she truly emulated what it means to show love and care for others.

Beyond her family, Colleen’s passion was crafting. She was an incredibly talented artist. Her crafting creations were in high demand and her work will live on and be enjoyed for years in her family’s home and the homes of many others.

Surviving is husband Todd and their three kids, Connor, Michaela, and Brendan of Brunswick, parents, Noel and Jeanne Ryan of Scarborough and one brother, Timothy Ryan of Charlotte North Carolina.