Shirley Savage "Shan" Prehn

Shirley (Shan) Savage Prehn

Shirley S. "Shan" Prehn, 86 of Leesburg, Virginia, passed away peacefully and surrounded by loved ones on Thursday, January 4th, 2024. She was born August 4th, 1937 in Waterville, Maine, the daughter of the late Hazel Crawford Savage and Norman Savage. Shan grew up with her brother Robert (Bob) in Madison and Millinocket, Maine and attended Stearns High School where she excelled in theater, dance, chorus, and public speaking.

Shan attended Boston University for two years before attending Katharine Gibbs School in Boston to train as an executive secretary. After completing her course, Shan moved to Washington, DC and worked for Senator Frederick Payne (Maine). She had fond memories of living in Georgetown, walking out her door, hopping on a trolley to Capitol Hill and going to work.

In 1958, her brother Bob introduced her to the love of her life, Jerry Prehn. They married the following year in Millinocket and were devoted to each other for 62 years until his death in 2022. Jerry was in the foreign service and together they traveled the world with family in tow and enjoyed several postings (Moscow, Vienna, Munich, London).

In 1976, Shan and her family returned to the US and settled in Vienna, Virginia. Shan worked for Degnon Associates and Children's Hospice International. In 1986, they enjoyed a final posting in Ottawa, where she volunteered for Kids on the Block, whose core message is to teach children about differences and similarities in themselves and others.



In 2001, they retired to Leesburg, Virginia, where Shan and Jerry had the opportunity to be close to their children and dote on their grandchildren by enthusiastically attending theater, piano, dance, sports and family events. Shan never tired of sharing stories of her beloved New England and led memorable family trips to Maine and New Hampshire with the entire Prehn/Hogan clan.

Shan is survived by her three children, Jeffrey Prehn, Matthew Prehn (his wife Jill), Elizabeth "Lici" Hogan (her husband Michael) and 5 grandchildren with whom she enjoyed very close and special relationships right up until her passing. Shan's children will always hold dear the memories of a wonderful mother who hosted special birthday parties, led them on amazing outings in foreign countries, and spent every March Madness cheering on Duke. Her kindness, compassion and welcoming nature will be remembered by her family and many friends.

The memorial and celebration of the life of Shan Prehn will be held on Friday, January 19th at 12:00 pm at the River Creek Club (43800 Olympic Blvd Leesburg, VA) A reception will immediately follow. Shirley Savage "Shan" Prehn