Obituary of Shaina Noel Strong

Shaina Noel Strong, age 46, of Woodbury, MN, noted tractor enthusiast and lover of all things Disney, passed peacefully into the arms of Jesus on June 13th, 2024, surrounded by her loving family.

Her life was a collection of stories and fairy tales, played out across her vivid imagination and punctuated with her sharp sense of humor.  Through books, music, plays and films, Shaina rode horses across fields of wildflowers, battled dragons and evil queens alongside dashing princes, strolled the yellow brick road, and even took a few pokes to the eye from Larry, Moe and Curly.

Shaina was born on Christmas Day, 1977, in Caribou, Maine, but soon embraced her home and sports fandom in Minnesota. While for many that meant years of misery, Shaina was always thrilled just to catch the next game, the next pitch, the next basket, and to celebrate the small victories. She cheered as hard for the local youth teams as she did for the pros, and she could often be seen in her signature hooded sweatshirt emblazoned with the logo of any team that might have a game that day.

Her many friends will remember Shaina best for her warmth, her belly laughs, her love of Coca-Cola, and her giving heart. Shaina enjoyed many jobs through the years, but it was her volunteer opportunities that brought her the most joy. She was a constant presence at church, packing meals or helping with clothing drives, and contributing in any way possible to improve the lives of others.  Thankfully, her legacy of stewardship will live on in the farm she helped inspire, The Specialty Crop, a place where adults with special needs can contribute and learn the same purpose that Shaina found. Memorials will be used to start a scholarship program in Shaina's name for that purpose.  She was never happier than when she was on the farm.

Shaina is survived by her parents Vicki & Bruce Strong, brother David Strong & sister-in-law Erin Riley-Strong, sister Katelyn Zuraff & favorite brother-in-law Chris Zuraff, and her beloved nieces and nephews, Emmalyn, Nolan, Magnus, Adelyn, Fiona, and Callan.

A visitation will be held on Thursday, June 27, from 4-6 pm at Shaina's beloved Oak Hill  Campus of Woodbury Lutheran Church, 9050 60th Street, Stillwater, MN (just north of Highway 36 on the frontage road) in Grant Township.  A Celebration of Life will be held at Oak Hill on Friday, June 28, with visitation at 10 am, service at 11 am, and luncheon to follow.  We encourage people to come ready to share stories of Shaina during the luncheon. 

Memorials for the Shaina Strong Scholarship to provide empowerment opportunities for people with special needs at the Specialty Crop can be mailed to Bruce Strong, 8721 Pheasant Run Circle, Woodbury, MN 55125.  Memorials may also be sent to bruce.strong@comcast.net on PayPaL

Thank you all who have expressed your love for our girl.  She was a force!