Renita R. McCan-Shaw, 57, of Pinellas Park, FL funeral service is 1:30 PM, Friday, September 7, 2012 at Bay Pines National Cemetery, 10000 Bay Pines Blvd., Bay Pines, Florida 33744 with full military honors by the Pinellas County Military Honor Guar and Chaplin-Lt. Col. Herb Kaklak.
Renita was born on September 18, 1954 in Plymouth, IN and went home to be with the Lord on August 28, 2012. She graduated from Benton Central High School in 1972. She served in the US army as a French Linguist from 1972 till 1976 and was a Vietnam Era Veteran. During her military career, she was awarded the National Defense Service Medal; Good Conduct Medal and a Sharpshooter Badge Rife M-16. She was honorably discharged in 1976 and graduated with honors from Purdue University. She served as a vocational Rehabilitation Counselor for the State of Indiana and for the Veterans Administration.
She is preceded in death by her father .Jean F. McCan in October 2004. She is survived by her loving family: her daughter, Heather Shaw of Ft Myers, Florida; her mother, Mildred Hayn Kruse of Pinellas Park, Florida; a sister, Midgie J. Harper and her husband, Steven of Lafayette, Indiana and two brothers; James L. McCan PHD and his wife, Carolyn of Orlando, Florida and John D. McCan and his wife, Kelli of Clearwater, Florida along with many nieces and nephews.
Please send all floral arrangements’ directly to the cemetery prior to services.
Veterans Funeral Care
727-524-9202
Renita has been a special joy to our family. We are very proud of her as a family member, as a mother to Heather, as well as her accomplishments in her career; but most important she continued to praise God even through her ending struggles! I love you Renita!! -mom-
I love you and miss you mom
Renita was a very special person and friend she was always there for me no matter what she was going through. True to her faith and family she was one of a kind. Love u Renita
Renita was a very special person and friend she was always there for me no matter what she was going through. True to her faith and family she was one of a kind. Love u Renita
Renita was such an amazing woman with so much power and strength. Even in her toughest times she was here for everybody else. She is a hero and inspiration to so many of us and always will be. I love you very much Aunt Renita always and forever.
We were all very blessed to have you in our lives, you were an angel to us all here on earth and now you get to share your love in heaven. I love you Aunt Ren.
I served with Renita at Ft Meade, Md. She was a friend whose company I enjoyed alot. She even went out of the way to visit me when I went TDY to Ft Ben on Army business. She will be sorely missed. I loved seeing her on facebook and sharing so much of the things she loved.
Dear cousin Renita- I miss you already. You were such an inspiration to all of us the past few years. I’m glad we could keep in touch with Facebook. Enjoy your reward in heaven. You fought the good fight. Well done good & faithful servant. Prayers are going out for Heather, Aunt Midge, Midgie Jean, John, James, & families. Lean on the Lord. Someday we will all be together again in heaven. Love you all.
Renita you have been a dear friend since I met you almost six years ago. We clicked immediately! Heaven has welcomed the most vibrant person I have ever known! I miss our lunches together and your constant support and prayers when I needed it. Your posts on FB showed your strength and faith throughout your battle with cancer. I love and miss you, my friend, but I will see you again some day! Hug my hubby for me! Love you! Jenny
I was saddened to see Renita lost her battle with cancer. She had such a big heart and love for others. I know she had a strong faith and now has a new body free of pain and suffering. She will be missed. My prayers are with the family.
I feel REALLY BLESSED to find you on Facebook. I will cherish the many messages we wrote back and forth to each other. You were such a witness on this Earth for Him. The only thing that puts a smile on my face is knowing you are in His presence now. I am thankful there will no longer be pain for you. You never complained, what a trooper you were!
You will ALWAYS stay in my heart, my friend. I love you and will talk again, when it is time.
Renita was the angel in our Seymour Office Vocational Rehabilitation Office always bringing some small gift to each of us. She was one of the kindest, most loving people I know. I will miss our conversations about world issues and her favorite televangilist, but am glad she is not suffering any longer and is with the Lord.
On behalf of the Indiana Vocational Rehabilitation Services I would like to extend condolences to Renita’s family. Renita had an impact on many people with disabilities here in Indiana. I knew Renita as we went through classes together to obtain our Masters degree, and have fond memories.
Nancy Zemaitis, Director, VRS
I’m so sorry Heather. Your mom and I graduated from BC together and then when she was in Lafayette, we used to get together for our birthdays which are one week apart. I came to your graduation party. She took me roller skating in Lafayette when we were in high school. She showed us all her faith and I can only hope I can have a little of how she knew the Lord. My prayers are with you all.
Renita, I’m happy to have got to know you at the Seymour VR office, we share our Military background, you being in the Army and me being an Army Brat! You will truly be missed and I’m happy to see you are no longer suffering. Our prayers to your daughter Heather and the family.
God Bless you! Love you!
So sorry for your loss. I worked with Renita at Workforce Development in Lafayette. She was one of the nicest sweetest people I have ever met.
My heart breaks at the loss of someone who was like a little sister to me during our years together at Mt Gilboa Church. My prayers go out to Heather, Millie, Midge, James & John. Renita was a treasure that will never be forgotten. Go with Jesus, Renita.
Renita will always be missed by those who knew her. She was very unselfish and very thoughtful of others. Loyalty was one of her strengths. I know she will want for us to remember the good times we all shared with her. I miss you my buddy Renita!!
I worked as Renita’s secretary at Vocational Rehabilitation in Lafayette for a number of years, and I can say that she was a very special, sweet person that we could always count on to arrnage an outing for us to get together and have a good time! My prayers go out to Heather and all of her Family.
Renita, without a doubt, was the most genuine, caring and compassionate person I have known. She always put everyone else’s needs before her own. As a coworker, and as someone I was fortunate enough to consider a friend, she will be greatly missed, and always remembered.
I knew Renita through Vocational Rehabilitation. She was a lovely, fun woman and she will be missed.
Peggy Hege
My friendship with Renita began back in Jr. Hi at Coal Creek Central. There was no truer Bearcat and we hated that she missed our 40th reunion in June–she was so disappointed. We lost touch after high school, re-connected about 16 years ago, then found ourselves working for the same state agency and went through graduate school together. She was passionate about her work, a devoted mother (and dog mom), a loyal and caring friend, and one of the kindest, sweetest souls I’ve known. Renita, you will be missed and you will be remembered for being an extraordinary person. You touched the hearts of so many.
I knew Renita through her position at Vocational Rehabilitation, I worked with clients who needed help with employment. Renita was always there for people, kind and caring. She was a good person. My sympathies to her family and friends.