Obituary of Alyson Nicole Shane

We are beyond devastated to announce the passing of Alyson Shane, wife, daughter, sister, friend, business owner, volunteer, educator and community champion.

So many people are mourning Alyson, including her husband, John Luxford II; parents, Alan and Deborah Shane; brothers, Alex and Michael; grandma, Mary; Aunt Lori (Russell); sisters-in-law, Amanda, Lauren and Emily; nephew Zach; and niece, Alita. Alyson was predeceased by her niece, Sienna.

A writer at heart and an OG blogger with 23 years (and counting) of publishing content online, Alyson leveraged her passion and turned it into her marketing superpower. With a degree in Rhetoric, Writing, & Communications from the University of Winnipeg, Alyson created Starling Social in 2014. In the past decade, Alyson grew her marketing powerhouse, bringing on a team with a company culture she was very proud of. 

Alyson believed we have a responsibility to give back to our community and do good. She sponsored events and donated her time to organizations, including SPARK!, Manitoba Music, Manitoba Chamber Orchestra, Vote Open Winnipeg, Winnipeg Women’s Community, Winnipeg Chamber of Commerce and more. In 2021, Alyson was awarded Volunteer Manitoba’s “SPARK Pro Bono Consultant Award.” She was also a finalist for several awards, including the Woman Entrepreneur of the Year and Spirit of Winnipeg.

She embodied the spirit of Wolseley. Alyson loved gardening, reading, creating art, gaming, cooking and riding her bike around the city to visit local shops, breweries, and The Forks. Alyson, with John by her side, enjoyed travelling worldwide, dancing at local music festivals, entertaining (preferably with a punny theme), and singing in their band, Big Trouble in Little Wolseley.

Alyson was a unique and brilliant light and energy in this world who lit up every room and cared too deeply about everything and everyone. She was the best of us, but also someone who struggled bravely and openly about the mental health challenges that let her give more love to others than she was able to recognize she received back. Alyson will be greatly missed - whether you knew her personally or knew of her, Alyson will not soon be forgotten.

Cremation has taken place.

A Celebration of Life will be held at Robert A Steen Community Club, 980 Palmerston Avenue, on Saturday, November 16, 2024 at 2:00 PM.

Donations to the Main Street Project would be greatly appreciated.