Shanna Mari Birkeland

Our sweet angel, Shanna Mari Birkeland, age 33, passed away peacefully on January 19, 2016, in Salt Lake City, Utah, surrounded by her loving family.  Shanna Mari was born October 12, 1982, in Salt Lake City, Utah, to Clifford and Lynne Birkeland.  She was tenderly loved and appreciated by her entire family, and she was a great example and influence on others, a loving peacemaker.  She was patient, almost to a fault, and loved everyone unconditionally.  She was surrounded by angels and kept the spirit of peace and harmony in our home.  She had great fun loving all seventeen nieces and nephews and giggled as they climbed into her wheelchair or on her bed to be close to her.  Shanni loved to be outside to enjoy God's creations.  Feeling the rain, the wind, or the snow in her face always brought her great joy.   Despite her physical limitations, she was a leader and a teacher just by her demeanor, and we all wanted to follow her.  Shanna served as the Reverence Specialist in Primary, and loved to be with little children.  She was blessed with a happy nature, a gift that she shared and used well, and she scattered sunshine and happiness everywhere.  She truly was a little bit of heaven on earth.

We express grateful appreciation to Developmental Disabilities, Inc., The Utah School for the Blind, and Hartvigsen School, their dedicated teachers and specialists, and the many doctors and nurses who have given Shanni such tender loving care these many years.

Shanna is survived by her mother Lynne; four brothers and one sister: Eric (Kelley), Brian (Angie), Rebecca (Matt) Barton, Lars (Kera), and Brett (Haley); and seventeen nieces and nephews: Isabelle, Melanie and Sydney; Emmi, Jack and Lucy; Samantha, Alexis and Jacob; Tyler, Elena, Leah, Eva and Noah; Madeline, Claire and Beau.

Preceded in death by her father Cliff.

Funeral services will be held on Saturday, January 23, 2016, 12:00 noon at the East Mill Creek 2nd Ward, 3750 South Hillside Lane (2500 East).  Friends may gather Friday evening from 6:00 to 8:00 pm at the East Mill Creek 2nd Ward, and on Saturday from 10:30-11:30 am prior to the services.  Interment:  Holladay Memorial Park, 4900 South Memory Lane.  Funeral Directors: The Holbrook Mortuary. Guestbook to post messages and tributes for the family available at: www.HolbrookMortuary.com

Click below to listen to funeral service. Available until April 22, 2016.