E lei kau, e lei ho'oilo i ke aloha.

Love is worn like a wreath through the summers and winters. Love is everlasting.

- Mary Kawena Pukui

Christine Susan Kodani Shaw passed away peacefully Sunday evening, August 20, 2023.

Born in Honolulu HI on August 28, 1966 at Kapiolani Hospital, Chris was the oldest daughter of James (Jim) Kodani (deceased) and Susan Kodani.

As the old saying goes, the apple doesn't fall too far from the tree. Taking cues from her mom, Chris loved organizing events whether it be a family vacation or someone's birthday or something bigger like the annual Marin Teen Girl Conference or Marin county's COVID response efforts.  And like her dad, she was a real people person - it was so easy for her to strike up conversations, "talk story", and create friendships that carried on through decades.

She was all about people - people were her hobby and she treated them like gardens in which she invested her nurturing and support - so much so that this extended into her professional career.  For instance, while an Equal Employment Specialist with the County of Marin, she worked to help improve the diversity, equity and inclusion within the county workforce. This was then followed by a Client Services position at Traliant  through which she multiplied her impact by helping many businesses across the country use Traliant's software that taught employees how to deal with discrimination, harassment, DEI, compliance and ethics, and other issues. With Chris, she was always thinking of others before herself.

At home, she split her time between treating her dog Bo (and Bear RIP) as a second child, tending her succulent garden and annual pumpkin patch, creating art from the heart in which she hit a high note this summer when the piece she created for the county fair won first place - we were all so proud of her, baking all sorts of desserts - she loved making anything sweet, watching her rom coms - she always liked a good laugh and cry, cheering for the Golden State Warriors (go DUBs!), and enjoying October for its pumpkins and Christmas for tree decorating and gift giving.  She also loved traveling and experiencing the world whether it be internationally with trips to Spain, France, Japan, Germany, and Italy or in her own backyard with cheese tastings in western Marin or road trips in the Miata up through the Anderson Valley to the North Coast.

She was truly a special person and a one of a kind who touched so many folks in her own way.  We're all so very lucky to have had her in our lives.

She leaves behind her family and extended ohana who will always remember her shining smile, grace and courage: mother, Susan Kodani Groggel, loving husband, Steve Shaw, cherished daughter, Josie, best friend and sister, Kelly Kodani Takeshita, brother-in-law, Michael Takeshita, and two wonderful nephews, Jake and Ezra Takeshita.

A Celebration of Life will be held in at McNears Beach Park in San Rafael, CA on November 5, 2023 from 11AM-2PM.  Please see the Events page for details.

Love life.  Engage in it.  Give it all you've got.  Love it with a passion because life truly does give back many times over what you put into it.

- Maya Angelou

Condolences may be sent to:

The Shaws, 55 Bridge Rd., Novato, CA 94945

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