Shira Brownstein

Her tenacity awed and inspired everyone who knew her. Doctors, nurses, and many other hospital staff were profoundly touched by her presence. Shira was born September 3, 1989 in Fitchburg, Massachusetts and moved to Tallahassee in 1990. She attended Shomrei Torah Synagogue, Camp Ramah Darom in Clayton, Georgia, and Camp Shalom in Tallahassee. She attended Lawton Chiles High School, received her high school diploma from Adult and Community Education and enrolled at Tallahassee Community College at the age of 16. While at TCC, Shira enjoyed participating in Drama productions, Alice in Wonderland, Big River, and A Christmas Carol. She was the voice behind multiple Tallahassee radio commercials. Her passion, competing in Forensics Speech and Debate Club, brought her to Portland, Tuscaloosa, New Orleans, and Chicago where she won numerous awards for her improvisations, Shira was a skilled stand-up comic, and was honored at The Comedy Zone's Stand Up For Scleroderma benefit. Shira loved animals, especially her dogs, Dolly and Rosie. She wished to swim with the dolphins and visit Atlantis, and Dreams Come True granted her wishes. Shira was full of life and never took a passing moment for granted. Despite her chronic illness, she persevered, and traveled to Israel through the Birthright program with Florida State University Hillel. Everyone admired her compassion, cherished her beauty, and appreciated her sharp wit and keen sense of humor.

She is survived by her loving parents, Fred and Patti, and her sisters, Naomi (Jesse) and Rachel, and her maternal grandparents, Lou and Rhea Schwartz, her paternal grandparents, Stanley and Linda Brownstein, as well as many loving cousins, aunts, uncles, and friends.

Funeral services are Monday, March 21 at 10:00 a.m. at Culley's Meadowwood, 700 Timberlane Road. For religious reasons, the family requests no flowers. Anyone wishing to honor her memory may contribute to the TCC Forensics Speech and Debate Scholarship Fund, c/o John Schultz, 444 Appleyard Drive, Tallahassee, Florida, 32304.

Arrangements are under the direction of Culley's MeadowWood Funeral Home, Tallahassee, FL.