From Leah Dark-Fleury

I am so sad to say that over the last couple of years, I had lost touch with Shona.  We didn't have a falling out we just got busy with our lives.  It is only when something like this happens that one realizes how important it is too keep in touch with those wonderful people you meet in your life.

I met Shona in the fall of 1983.  Shona, Jane and Marianne and I spent a year studying at the University of Padova. Marianne and I ended up living in an apartment together.  As you can see from the pictures, we had absolutely no fun at all!  I remember the first day we rented the apartment we promised the owner that we would absolutely not have any parties.  So, of course, we had a huge party the day we moved in which ended up with the police at our door.   Then, we had to convince the landlord we wouldn’t do it again.  I believe it was Shona who finally won him over. Now that I have a son the same age we were then, I think it is a miracle we didn't get into more trouble.

That year was one of the best years of my life and I believe that for all of us, Jane, Marianne and Shona it was a formative year of our lives.  Shona  was such a free spirit she just shined in Italy.   I don’t think she had any Italian in her but you could just see that when she was there, she was at home.  Always that huge smile and always ready to meet someone new, cook up an incredible meal and take on some new challenge.    I will always treasure her wonderful energy and joy of life.