Pamela SHAW Obituary

HAPPY PLATINUM WEDDING ANNIVERSARY TO MY BEAUTIFUL AND LOVING PARENTS, PAM SHAW AND JEFF SHAW, WHO CELEBRATE 70 YEARS TOGETHER ON SEPTEMBER 6TH. THEY WERE MARRIED IN 1953 IN LONDON AND LIVED IN NEW ZEALAND, RAISING SIX CHILDREN AND BUILDING A BEAUTIFUL LIFE TOGETHER. I AM VERY, VERY PROUD OF MY PARENT'S UNCONDITIONAL LOVE FOR EACH OTHER, RESPECT, HONOUR AND TRUST THEY SHARED THROUGHOUT THEIR MANY HAPPY YEARS. I LOVE YOU BOTH MORE THAN I CAN SAY, AND THANK YOU BOTH FOR ALWAYS BEING THERE FOR ME AND BEING EXTRAORDINARY, LOVING AND SUPPORTING PARENTS.

Pam Shaw is a special Nelsonian. She led an extraordinary life in Nelson and was a proud community contributor. I know that many people in the Nelson community, especially in the dance, arts and theatre spheres, will miss Pam's natural stage talents, cheerful, friendly and warm personality. She had such a love for her local community, giving money to street performers, helping to entertain the vulnerable at rest homes, being a kind, welcoming and calm presence in her neighbourhood of 55 years, and home hosting students and international tourists through the years. Her determined strong character helped her to keep her independence into her 90th year, while continuing to create, choreograph and teach advanced 'master' tap dancing at Peta Spooner's hall for a decade or more, twice weekly. Her tap classes changed the lives of her tap family. Her reach into Tai Chi, CWI Tahunanui, which won the national contest with Pam in a lead actress role, The Wahines and the Golden Girls entertainment groups toured the region, Nelson Musical Theatre, Nelson Repertory, shows to many to name. The Boathouse Choir, the Ukelele Choir at Founders and at the Trafalgar St Women's Centre, and The World of Wearable Arts as a memorable character actor, demonstrated that she was a rare community member, who was able to enjoy and seek joy within Nelson. Many people will remember Pam, even after just one interaction. Her bubbly, heart-felt and genuine care for all people endeared her to people's hearts. Pam left her family many, many cherished memories and we are all so proud and privileged to have had the best Mum in the world to share our lives with. Pam was one of a kind and we know she will be tap dancing and sharing her love and passion in heaven. We will love you forever Mum and honour you memories with a lifetime of service, as you did for the Nelson community. Attached a few recent photos of Pam supporting the Youth Theatre of Nelson and future young performers. On behalf of the Shaw Family, thank you to everyone has has sent cards, emails, and uploaded memories here. Any further messages can also be sent to: The Shaw Family, Flat 2, 17 Seaton Street, Marybank, Nelson.

Did not know Pam personally, but could not take my eyes off her, when I saw her on stage. What a privilege it would haven been to have known her. RIP

A truly remarkable unique woman who gave so much to Nelson. She will be missed greatly.

I was privileged to get to know this lovely vibrant, and talented lady over a many years. I spent time with Pam on a regular basis to care for her feet. We always talked about her passion, her ladies, and her boys. Always ready for a hug when she arrived, and left. please accept my sincere condolences

My amazingly special and precious, mother Pam Shaw led an extraordinary, remarkable long-life into her 90th year. Doing what she loved and surrounded by close friends. My Mum was still strong and fit, still tap dancing at an extremely high level, which was her life-long passion, and teaching twice a week at the Peta Spooner Hall. She took pleasure being involved in Tai Chi, and she enjoyed many other activities including: her large, beautiful garden where her hours of enjoyment each week were always time well spent, she developed theatre skills as a young girl, and revisited many of her ambitions after her family had grown up. My Mum found joy being a natural performer, group playing of the ukelele, singing in several choirs, and extensive charity entertainment groups around most of the regions rest homes, over a decade to share her gentle compassion and sincere love for all people. My Mum was proudly a Nelsonian for 55 years. Many Nelsonians will fondly remember my mum, Pam for her ready smile, kindness and compassion to all, her cheerful and fun sense of humour, being full of joy for living and living an independent, proud, authentic life. My Mum was very loved and supported by some close family which gave her strength and a desire to way surpass her wildest dreams. She was in contact with me daily and my visits to Nelson were frequent. Across her fulfilling 25 years of retirement years, after bringing up 6 boys with her late husband Jeff, my Mum showed an ever-increasing passion for life, was a true inspiration, bright, bubbly, and full of positivity and she showered us with unconditional love. She was only intrinsically motivated to be a creative person. Reaching a mastery level of tap dancing; she was creating unique, original choreography, many dozen of tap routines and performed publicly that she designed over her 25 years of retirement. Pam's true passion of tap dance was a forever love and she was still creating new, even more complex and intricate rhythm tap combos, to hand-picked music just weeks ago. She called it her Tap life and often said to me: 'To Live is to Dance. To Dance is to Live.'
I can't express enough genuine thanks and aroha to everyone in Nelson who has shared their lives with Pam and their heartfelt, lovely memories about Pam.
God Bless,
Lawrence (Pam's youngest son of six)