Shannon B. Rupe

POULTNEY - Shannon Beverly Rupe, 21, of Poultney, died suddenly, but peacefully at home, in her bedroom with her cat in her lap, Tuesday morning, January 13, 2015, as a result of hypoplastic left heart syndrome, a congenital heart defect she struggled with her entire life.

Born February 1, 1993, the daughter of Gary Rupe and Tracee (Oakman) Rupe. She had an older sister Brooke Rupe and a younger sister Kelsey Rupe.

Shannon attended Poultney Pre- School, Elementary and Jr. High and was one of Mrs. Perry's and Mrs. Festa's "American Girls." In 2008, she got her wish and received a wonderful trip to NYC and the American Girl Place, compliments of the "Make-A-Wish" Foundation.

She attended Fair Haven Union High School and graduated in 2014 with honors although she was learning impaired. She blossomed at FHUH and looked forward to attending every day, and she loved the friends she made there.

Shannon loved reading and computers, especially her iPad and the Wii. She loved to listen to music and to dance. She loved to cook and was known for pizza night on Fridays. She had a great sense of humor and quick wit. She liked to travel and was knowledgeable about the many places she had been.

In 2012, she passed the hunter-safety course and became a deer hunter with her dad. The following year, she passed the snowmobile safety course so she could drive the snowmobile on the lake and in the cornfield. She lived on Lake St. Catherine her whole life and was an avid swimmer, never without her goggles. She liked to fish off the dock and show others how to bait the hook. In the summertime, she enjoyed smores and hot dogs over the campfire.

She had a passion for animals and loved her pets. She never forgot the name or breed of anyone's pet. In the last year of her life, she enjoyed therapeutic horseback riding.

Shannon was very kind and had great empathy for others. Shannon's eyes were donated to the eye bank so that others might see and to repair holes in hearts. Shannon's heart and lungs were donated to Boston Children's Hospital to educate doctors to improve the life of others with her type of congenital heart defect.

Shannon was a gift. She was loved greatly and she will be missed.

Friends may call at King's Funeral Home in Granville, NY, on Saturday, January 17th from 10 a.m. to noon. A funeral service will follow at St. Paul's Episcopal Church in Wells at 2 p.m.

A burial in the Wells Cemetery and Mass are planned for the Spring.

The family would appreciate any photos of Shannon which can be emailed to taopc61@aol.com, and Contributions on her behalf may be made to Boston Children's Hospital at: http://giving.childrenshospital.org/.