From The Fairbanks Newsminer:
(Written by Shelly's mom, Lynn)
Fairbanks resident Michele "Shelly" Szepanski died peacefully in Minnesota on Dec. 4, 2008, after a four-year battle with melanoma.
Shelly was born in Minneapolis on Feb. 4, 1967, and lived in Juneau, Anchorage, McGrath and Fairbanks for most of her 41 years. She graduated from Juneau-Douglas High School in 1985 and was a member of the All-State Girls' High School basketball team her junior and senior years.
While battling cancer, Shelly continued to work on her doctorate program in moose research, got her pilot's license, and took dressage lessons. She always maintained her love for the outdoors and Alaska.
Shelly is survived by her parents, Lynn and Bill Szepanski of Anoka, Minn.; her sister and brother-in-law, Jennifer and Steve Mendive of Palmer; grandmother Lorraine of Minnesota; numerous aunts, uncles and cousins in Minnesota, Oregon and Alaska; and her good friends, Kalin Kellie, Heather Wilson, Caroline Brown of Alaska, and many others along her journey.
A celebration dinner will take place in Fairbanks at a later date. Shelly's cremains will be spread at various Alaska locations according to her wishes. Please visit http://shellyszepanski.blogspot.com/ for updates.
Shelly's parents can be reached at lynn.bill@yahoo.com. Memorials may be sent to: The Melanoma Research Foundation, 170 Township Line Road, Building B, Hillsborough, NJ 08844.
