Shen
Celebration of a Life
Shen
Shen Poehlman was my daughter. She was like most teenage girls of 17 - strong-willed and determined to make her own way in the world. She was named after an Egyptian symbol for immortality - "as long as the Sun is on the horizon, life goes on forever." Shen had graduated with honors from high school in May, 1998, and was headed to Florida State University on an academic scholarship where she planned to study marine biology, a lifelong passion.
On August 15, 1998, her brother Jeremiah and I planned to fly to Florida with Shen and help her get settled in. We had the plane tickets, and Shen had started packing those beautiful suitcases she had received as a graduation gift. Instead of going to Florida, we had to bury my beautiful daughter two weeks before she was scheduled to report to college. My beautiful Shen was brutally assaulted, smothered, and strangled by a man who lured her to his apartment under the guise of a $10.00 per hour babysitting job.
As I try to deal with this senseless and brutal crime, I mourn the loss
of my sweet beloved and think about her dreams that will be left unfulfilled.
How can I not feel anger and hatred for the person who took advantage of
my daughter's innocence and trusting nature in such a cowardly manner?
In memory of my daughter who personified joy, happiness, and respect for
all things living, I cannot allow myself to succumb to the burning anger
and hatred that is raging within me. Instead, in spite of how I feel,
I must celebrate a life that was truly a special one that touched many
people in special ways. In life, Shen brought much joy to the people
around her. In death, her memory does the same. She possessed
such a pure heart!
Fellow web surfers, I ask that you spend a few moments to celebrate the life of my daughter, Shen Poehlman. I don't want Shen's memory to be connected only to a barbaric act; instead, I'd like her to be remembered for who she was and what she was to so many people. I must seek some comfort in hoping that by reading these words, some other young girl will avoid my daughter's fate. That would at least make her death not in vain.
I ask that you help me keep my daughter's memory alive by showing this site to at least two other people. Also, if you knew Shen and have any stories, anecdotes, or just memories, please e-mail them to me or sign the Guestbook on the previous page. They will be posted on a bulletin board, which will be added to this webpage in the near future. (Even if you didn't know Shen, I'd appreciate hearing from you.) Let Shen's memory live on!
In memory of Shen and on behalf of the entire Poehlman family, thank you!
Links of Celebration
Our children extend our lives and create our immortality
A friend and a mentor to her younger brother
Remembered for the joy she gave others
Looking forward to studying dolphins . . .
Gone .
. . but never to be forgotten
Click mermaid
to send e-mail to the
Poehlman
Family
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