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BORN
1950
DIED
2016
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Shannon Antoine Obituary
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Memories and Condolences
for Shannon Antoine
Nicole Rieskamp
July 11, 2025
Dr. Antoine was my favorite English teacher and encouraged my love of history and the arts. Hers is a magnificent legacy of sharing her sense of humor and expansive knowledge with her students.
September 18, 2016
SHANNON
Shannon was the oldest sibling and so brilliantly smart
She was sweet and caring with a kind loving heart
Shannon was our sibling mentor always quietly guiding us along the way
Our go to search engine who advised what to do next and what we should say
Shannon stirs great childhood memories of fun at our home in Gentilly
Drinking chocolate malt's and making mud pies and just acting silly
We'd catch the Elysian Fields Bus on Saturday mornings, with Shannon as our guide
Exploring up and down Canal Street ending at Woolworth's soda fountain for hot fries
Shannon always loved weekly TV series, her quest for learning always a driving force
During the series Daktari she decorated her room in jungle and took a Swahili course
We had wonderful times on the backyard swings, laughing, and swinging high and low
Shannon would tell us great stories, and make up whole episodes of TV shows
Shannon was always a great teacher, she taught me so very much
Like how to drive a stick shift without burning up the clutch
Shannon would inspire us to think and make our dreaded school projects great
If we got stuck, she'd put us back on track and they would always be first rate
One of Shannon's greatest passions was genealogy, she could research anything or anyone
In libraries and old cemeteries, new discoveries got her so excited, she had so much fun
Shannon was an avid bird watcher and loved nature all things great and small
Happiest traveling around the country, making memories with Shelley and having a ball
Shannon was the family vacation planner she was great at arranging the perfect trip
Making it a true adventure she'd plan it completely down to the amount to tip
My kids were drawn to Aunt Shannon because she was so compassionate and kind
She was full of such wisdom and good humor, such a fun spirit is hard to find
Her Franklin kids were so lucky to have a teacher who cared for them so much
Even when she had to correct someone it was done with the gentlest touch
Shannon was a mama to her two kitties, Annie and Isabelle
When they slept in her bed she felt comforted and well
Shannon had so much left to give, so many more of her kids she could touch
It's hard to imagine life without her she'll be missed so very much
I know Shannon's Adventure isn't over, after all she's got our Mama by her side
She left us with all the years of her deep wisdom, and prepared us for life's crazy ride
By now I know Shannon's through the pearly gates, so I will end these few words
I can see her enthusiastically learning everything about all the heavenly birds
Love, Wendy
Shelley
July 19, 2016
My sister Shannon was always seeking knowledge - and always sharing what she learned and discovered with everyone around her always teaching - her sisters and brothers, her nieces and nephews, her friends, her students, everyone.... When we were growing up, Shannon loved reading and writing - books every one she could find. Being the oldest she often had to entertain us, creating whole stories. When I had to miss a TV show I liked because of piano lessons, she would take notes and tell me the whole story when I got home. Who needed a recorder when you had Shannon? Better yet, she would create a whole different and better TV script...always the writer. She helped us with our homework and she tried to teach me the science geek about literature and poetry. If I am able to pen a decent sentence today, I owe it to her always my teacher. Whenever anyone needed to know anything, we just had to ask, and immediately Shannon would research it and get all the answers. She felt that knowledge was the key to everything you could solve any problem if you just knew and understood the facts.
In the old days she did it with books and libraries in the days before the internet. But when computers came along that didn't stop her, taking to it like a duck to water. She was the first person I knew to get a computer and she mastered finding information on the internet early on. She was the first person I knew to get a smart phone, the first to try digital photography, the first at almost anything she did.
When she got into genealogy, it wasn't enough to know who the daddy was or when someone was born, she had to recreate the entire history. Why did these people do this or go there? What was going on in the world at that time? What was the story the whole narrative? She could walk into any archive or library in the world and instantly find her way around it soon enough she was showing the librarian where things were. When she started writing novels, it was the same thing - always the research, the learning. I have no doubt that had she had time for herself or lived into retirement, she would have been a published author many times over - or, as she was known around the family - "daddy's famous daughter."
Most of you know we traveled a lot, seeking adventures. Did she just sign up for a tour? Nope, she spent hours pouring over everything she could find every book, every article. And this was in the days before trivago and booking.com. She wrote to hotels, arranged tours and boat trips, arranged meetings with distant relatives we didn't know we had. If she didn't know the language no problem; she just taught it to herself. She was never afraid to go anywhere or do anything from camping in bear territory to swimming with piranhas, flying in tiny planes over waterfalls, climbing mountains, going into strange cities, snorkeling, even though she didn't even know how to swim. The only things that scared her were bees and wasps! She planned every detail of the trip paying careful attention to the interests of everyone involveda church for Aunt Zu, for mama - a boat trip or an archeological dig, or a place in the novel she was writing. For me, she included nature preserves and fantastic birding sites. For herself, of course she included cemeteries and history sites. And we all learned from her about things we didn't even know we were interested in...always the teacher. Before we left town, she'd have a whole book put together to guide us so we could learn and discover things along the way...always teaching. And on the flight home, she'd say what to you think about such and such a place for next year? A week later there would be 20 books on the place on the kitchen table. And it wasn't just exotic locales either. If I said I saw an interesting preserve, she'd have us in the car and headed there. Together, we sought out rocks and fossils, panned for gold, hunted for diamonds, antiques, went metal detecting, and sought birds. She'd line up which bird to see and where to see them, not to count them or put them in a list...no, she had to know about their lives, their habitats, the people who discovered them, their importance in the scheme of things. When we joined the Northshore Bird Club, she didn't want to be just a member, no, first she had to be president and then she had to spend many years putting together a wonderful newsletter for everyone to enjoy.
And then there was her life's work, her calling... her students. They sent her notes and cards many years after they had graduated and moved on in life, thanking her for what she had done for them. You can tell what a huge impact she had on them in their lives by the things they wrote. She loved Ben Franklin and devoted herself to working as hard as she could on behalf of the school, her fellow teachers, and most of all her kids. She was generous with her time for the school, Kappa Delta Pi, the Northshore Birdclub, her friends, and most of all her family. She loved researching gifts for other people, spending hours planning the perfect present. She was kind and never had anything bad to say about anybody. She never missed a play, a graduation or birthday party, a dance revue. She was my teacher, my confidant, my advisor, my traveling and birding companion, and my best friend. She will be missed.
Kathy H
July 11, 2016
My heart sinks to the bottom of some unknown ocean at this news. To this day I am certain I lack the ability to comprehend this woman's impact on not only me personally, but to most students that were lucky enough to learn from her. I wish to convey to her family my gratitude of the time I did get to sit in her classroom and firsthand observe the wits and imaginations of a person who inspired and challenged and never seemed to have a free moment all simultaneously occurring with the harmonic tone of her lovely bird call imitations (I am very glad to have a video of her doing them during class for us one time). Shantoine is one of those teachers I had that I will always smile upon mention of the name. My condolences to her family during this very trying time.
July 10, 2016
I am sorry to hear about the loss of your loved one.
May the love and compassion of God, be with the family and friends, during and after these difficult times.
Jonathan Bluth
July 9, 2016
Dr. Antoine had such a strong and positive impact on my experience at Franklin and was instrumental in helping frame the lense through which I look at the world. I will forever be grateful. I had the pleasure to work closely with her during the four years I worked on the Ben Franklin newspaper and, especially during the two years when I was its co-editor, she challenged me to search deeper for the real story, motivate the team of journalists and photographers to deliver meaningful content, and press the limits of the school's administration. But, in doing so, she was never authoritative or intimidating. I don't remember her ever dominating us with a commanding "no." Instead, she would quietly glide around the classroom making observations and asking questions, to help us figure out the answers on our own. If we were working on a weakly developed story, she wouldn't reprimand us, but she would ask, "do you think the story would benefit from another interview?" And, if we would be working on a controversial article, she would ask, "are you sure you want to publish that language?" She earned the respect and admiration of all the students in her classrooms, and helped us see how we could challenge ourselves and question if we were making our best efforts. Even though our school newspaper would never be mistaken for top-level journalism, everyone involved became a better person because of our interactions with Dr. Antoine.
-Jonathan Bluth
Class of 1995
Rosalind Chester
July 9, 2016
one of the kindest people I ever had the pleasure to work with.
Beatrice Flair
July 8, 2016
One of the sweetest, most generous ladies I have known. She loved her students and wanted the best for them. She's now flying with all the birds she loved.
Peace,
Trice
Ahmad Southern (BFHS, c/o 2016)
July 8, 2016
Dr. Antoine was a wonderful person and a joy as a teacher, her class was probably one of my favorite classes of an otherwise long and tumultuous junior year. My thoughts and prayers go out to her family.
George Gulotta
July 8, 2016
Dr. Antoine was an amazing teacher and her AP English class was definitely one of the highlights of an already exceptional experience and Franklin. She will be missed.
T Sledge
July 8, 2016
I am very sorry for your loss. May you find the comfort need to endure and gain strength from from the Bible.
July 8, 2016
Sending my sincere condolences to the family. May the God of all comfort give you peace and strength during this difficult time. Psalms 29:11
Lisa Helmuth
July 8, 2016
Sincere condolences to family and friends. What a spectacular lady. Inspired by her zeal. Blessings to all who hurt from her passing
Elisabeth Rareshide (BFHS c/o 1998)
July 7, 2016
I offer my condolences and best wishes to Dr. Antoine's family and friends. She was a wonderful teacher. In English AP, she pushed us to dig below what the characters said in "Gawain and the Green Knight" and figure out what was really going on. She could embody authors so that it felt like we were talking to Wordsworth or Byron. She moderated a lively debate about fate versus free will when we discussed "Jude the Obscure." I learned more from her than I learned from a lot of my college professors. I thank her for helping make me a better reader and writer.
Carole de Lay-Poree
July 7, 2016
"Shannon was truly brilliant!
Always a pleasure to be in her presence.
Her gentle strength made her classes great.
Franklin's students will forever have fond memories of Dr.Antoine.
Shawn Hood
July 7, 2016
A life well lived. Rest easy, weary traveler. To the family, may you find peace in knowing she experienced every moment of her life.
July 7, 2016
Shannon was a wonderful teacher and an inspirational colleague. Her tireless and selfless work for the Franklin community will always be appreciated and remembered. My thoughts and prayers are with her family.
Dr. Mary Mysing-Gubala
Ron Wegener
July 7, 2016
LOVING, KIND, CARING. Look up these words in the dictionary and you will find her "picture" there. So happy our lives crossed at BFHS and especially enjoyed the casual times when we were able to have lunch together in the teachers' lounge during fifth period.
Ron Wegener
Mattie White
July 6, 2016
To the family of Shannon Antoine:
I will remember Dr. Antoine as a great teacher and a wonderful individual. During her tenure at Benjamin Franklin High School , we worked together as department chairs, on many committees. She will be greatly missed for her smile, work, and cooperative spirit.
Please accept my deepest sympathy for your loss.
Mattie W. White
Department of Mathematics (Retired)
Benjamin Franklin High School
Mary Koen
July 6, 2016
My condolences to Shannon's family and friends. A life well lived, but lost too soon. May you be comforted by all the wonderful tributes and the truly amazing and lasting legacy she left through her students.
Jonathan Chawla
July 6, 2016
What a huge loss for the Franklin community. Dr. Antoine was a remarkable teacher with a knack for engaging her students and getting them to dig deeply, all while having a lot of fun in the process. I will always remember her class - and her - very fondly.
Irena Politzer
July 6, 2016
I was lucky to have Dr. Antoine as my English teacher twice - in my freshman year and my senior year (BFHS c/o 1996) - and always enjoyed her classes while learning so much. She encouraged my natural love of reading while guiding me to be a better writer and thinker. Dr. Antoine was the epitome of what makes the Franklin experience so unique and wonderful, and I hope that knowing what an impact she had on so many people will be a comfort to her family and friends in this time of grief.
July 6, 2016
Deepest condolences to the family at this very sad time. Psalms 116:15
July 6, 2016
My sincere condolences to the family for the loss of your loved one. May prayers strengthen you and memories comfort you, and may our Lord Jesus Christ and God our Father, who loves us, comfort your hearts and "make you firm". (2 Thessalonians 2:16, 17)
Cathy Hightower
July 6, 2016
Shannon always demonstrated the compassion, intelligence, deep wisdom combined with impish wit, as well as the strength of conviction to make every experience with her better. She was truly a servant to all grading hundreds of students essays over and over as they worked to become better writers. She inspired all of us to be better thinkers and writers; but more importantly to be better persons. She was always a great sounding board for me as I worked to come up with new ways to help students improve their reading and writing skills. Her laughter was infectious and her smile lit up the room.
So glad we had a chance to say goodbye at the retirement party. She will be greatly missed at Franklin. She represented the best of who we are.
Thoughts and prayers to her family.
K Radosta
July 6, 2016
It was a pleasure knowing and working with Shannon. She was one of the best English teachers to grace the grounds of Ben Franklin High School. Many students lives had been positively impacted due to her diligence, care and concern.
Gail Green
July 6, 2016
May your hearts soon be filled with wonderful memories of joyful times together as you celebrate a life well lived.
July 6, 2016
I am so sorry for your loss. May you find comfort in what is recorded in the Bible at Jeremiah 29:11 and 12.
Jeremy
July 6, 2016
My condolences to the Antoine family and friends. May the God of all comfort strengthen you all during this time. Ps 116:15
July 6, 2016
I am so sorry for your lost, may you draw comfort in Ps. 34:17,18 which says that God is near to those who are broken hearted and crushed in spirit.
Alex Messerli
July 6, 2016
Dr. Antoine was an excellent English teacher. I took her class both my freshman and senior years at Franklin. I recall senior year we watched Apocolypse Now, which was a pretty cool topic on which to write an essay. Random memory, I know.
Rest In Peace Dr. Antoine
Janie Maher
July 5, 2016
Shannon was greatly loved; she will be greatly missed. She is the true spirit of Ben Franklin, who will always live in our hearts. Rest in peace, dear friend.
Robert Silverstein
July 5, 2016
Dr. Antoine was one of those teachers you remember long after you graduate. My senior year, I decided to start a Franklin Book Club in efforts to bolster my college application. Dr. A agreed to serve as faculty liaison. What I imagined as simply a bullet point on the Common App, however, soon became a forum where we all joined together every week and cultivated our passion for reading, thanks to Dr. A. She encouraged our love of words, stayed late after school to discuss whatever book we had chosen, and reminded us that reading a good book simply to read a good book was just as valuable as preparing for an AP exam. She inspired even more students in her English class, where she taught us how to analyze a work beyond the banalities of Sparknotes. Despite how time consuming it was for her, Dr. Antoine would read our countless essay rewrites no matter how many times we edited them, understanding that it made us better writers and thinkers. Both inside and outside the classroom, be it teaching The Scarlet Letter or explaining to us the intricacies of bird watching, she was a wonderful person, and I hold only the fondest of memories from my years spent in her class and company. I am deeply sorry for your loss, but take comfort in knowing that for so many students like myself, she instilled an undying love of books and a reminder that kindness is the most valuable of traits. She will be so missed.
Diego Gonzalez-Grande
July 5, 2016
Dr. Antoine embodied the qualities of a great Franklin student and teacher- extraordinary vitality, generosity of spirit, and impish good humor. She assumed all work asked of her without complaint and shared her knowledge with peers and students alike.
Adrian Herbez
July 5, 2016
Dr. Antoine was one of the best teachers I ever had. I had her for English 3 and 4, and she was a real standout, even amongst the overall stellar Franklin faculty. I'm glad I got to know her at least a little, and my life is richer for it.
Lynn Jenkins
July 5, 2016
Shannon is the kindest and most humble person I have ever met, while at the same time one of the most intelligent. What a great example to all of us of hard work and perseverance. She was truly a humble servant.
Jean Gill
July 5, 2016
A dear friend, great mind, great teacher, but best of all a great soul. You taught all of us the power of kindness. Your legacy lives in thousands of students, colleagues, and friends.
Dustin Batson
July 5, 2016
Thank you for your constant encouragement and perpetual goodwill to all.
Lydia Melendreras
July 5, 2016
Rest in the peace of the Lord, Shannon. You were always a source of peace and sanity throughout the 20+ years that we worked together. I will miss you and BFHS will miss you.
My condolences to the family. My prayers are with you.
Laura Desporte Akin
July 5, 2016
Rest in peace dear one. None of us will forget your sheer joy and love of the English language. You were a bright soul. We will all miss you. BFHS c/o 95
Gail Gill
July 5, 2016
Shannon made the world a better place. She will be missed.
Naysan Mojgani
July 4, 2016
Dr. Antoine is one of the best teachers I've ever had. I learned so much from her, as a student, as a person, and now as a teacher myself. Although she is no longer with us, she leaves behind a tremendous mark on the world, through the many lives she touched and improved as a teacher.
Linnet Adams
July 4, 2016
Thank you for teaching me in creative writing my sophomore year.
July 4, 2016
everyone loved you
Haley Rupp
July 4, 2016
Thank you for sharing your life adventure with us. You were a great teacher with an even greater soul.
Victoria
July 4, 2016
What a wonderful and creative teacher - she opened up new worlds for me creatively - she will be greatly missed!
Tom Trenchard
July 4, 2016
Shannon - you will be sorely missed. Always in my thoughts and prayers.
Rajiv Saigal
July 4, 2016
I had the pleasure of learning from Dr. Antoine as one her English students at Franklin some 20 years ago. She was a wonderful teacher and made me a better writer and thinker. Condolences to the family for their loss. -Rajiv Saigal, BFHS c/o 1996
DERRICK ALLEN
July 4, 2016
R.I.P. Dr Shantoine
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Jul
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Jul
9
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10:00 a.m.
Lake Lawn Metairie Funeral Home & Cemeteries5100 Pontchartrain Blvd., New Orleans, LA 70124
Jul
9
Funeral service
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Lake Lawn Metairie Funeral Home & Cemeteries5100 Pontchartrain Blvd., New Orleans, LA 70124
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