Sybil Shane Sybil ShaneENLARGE Sybil Shane Sybil Shane died peacefully in her home in Grass Valley surrounded by loving family and friends on Jan. 9, 2012, after a long illness. She was 63. A celebration of life will be at 2 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 16, 2012, in the afternoon at the Miners Foundry in Nevada City. Sybil was born in Jacksonville, Fla., on Sept. 26, 1948, to Rita and Homer Shane. She grew up in Florida and moved to California in her 20s. She lived in the Bay Area for a number of years, then moved to Nevada City in 1986. Sybil was a loving and nurturing mother to her son, Patrick, and devoted herself to raising him with the deepest love and integrity. She sadly left him and her beloved partner, Jim Ward, as she continued on her journey. Sybil is also survived by her cherished brother, Pat Shane, and his partner, Deborah Brentwood. She had a large extended family and many friends, all of whom will miss her deeply. Sybil was a vibrant, attractive and intelligent woman blessed with amazingly diverse talents. She was a TWA stewardess, a certified public accountant, and a highly successful nationally acclaimed fine artist. Sybil's nature was serene and gentle, yet she was also very funny, confident, grounded and courageous. She had a strong curiosity evidenced by adventurous travel far and wide, and held a special love for Japanese culture. Sybil truly led a rich, colorful and creative life. Her keen sense of refined artistry — characterized by color, beauty, nature and Japanese design — illuminated all areas of her life. Her elegant art work reflected the power of presence and the essential goodness of nature. She was a great inspiration to many, a fountain of joy uplifting hearts and minds wherever she went, bringing peace to whatever she touched. Sybil was a longtime Buddhist, and her spiritual practice suffused her life. In her living and her dying, she exemplified immeasurable loving kindness, presence, grace and equanimity. In lieu of flowers, please consider contributions to Sybil's Dharma Center: Kagyu Changchub Chuling; 73 N.E. Monroe Street; Portland, Ore. 97212, or Hospice of the Foothills; 11270 Rough & Ready Hwy; Grass Valley, CA 9594