Biography

Dana Marie was born on September 29, 1997, in the Caribbean country of Trinidad and Tobago and emigrated to the United States with her family at the age of 12. She was the first daughter of Dean and Densie Sheppard of Oakdale, North Fayette Twp.

Dana Marie was a real estate agent for Howard Hanna and a graduate of West
Allegheny High School. An exotic beauty with a smile that illuminated her face, Dana Marie was a lively, fun loving young lady with a big personality and equally big laugh. She loved people and enjoyed being around them and making them laugh. She focused more on the happiness of others than on her own welfare. This generosity of spirit was evident in how she shared her life with thousands of people around the world, bringing them joy through her blogs and live streaming. Her exuberance shone through in her posts, as well as in her service to her customers and her relationships with her family. Dana was a bright light that shone on anyone with whom she interacted, and which was extinguished too soon.

She enjoyed writing and spent time journaling and writing poetry. Adventurous at heart, at the age of 18 she took the brave step of traveling, on her own, back to Trinidad and Tobago to visit her grandparents, relatives and friends there. Her travels took her through three different international airports before arriving at her final destination, and intimidating though the experience might have been, she persisted. She was courageous, tenacious and determined.

Above all she loved her family and treasured their unconditional love for her.

Dana Marie is survived by her parents, Dean and Densie and her two younger sisters, Jamie and Brooke; grandparents Keith and Sandra Sheppard; aunts and uncles, Anna-Maria Garcia-Brooks and Gerry Brooks; Gerard and Christine Garcia, Joan Garcia-Leong Sing and David Leong Sing; Finbar and Tanisha Garcia, Dennis and Anjani Garcia; Kent and Carolyn Sheppard, Kelli and Scott Forbes, Stuart Sheppard and many cousins. Dana Marie is preceded in death by her grandparents, Dennis and Leonora Garcia. May she rest in the eternal peace and loving arms of our Lord Jesus Christ.