Erica A. Shain

Erica Alberta Shain 36, passed away unexpectedly on Monday, September 2nd, 2024. Erica was born in Concord, Massachusetts on August 5, 1988.

Erica attended Calais high School and was employed with Walmart, Sonic Drive-In, the International Motel and her fiance's company 3 C’s Professional Stump and Tree Removal in Calais, Maine; but being a mom for her two daughters was her greatest passion. She has two daughters, Briana 18 and Talynn 5. 

With a lively personality, she was a blast at any occasion. She could cheer you up if you were down with her humor and lighten a dismal encounter with a clever quip or nonchalant comment to lighten the situation. No matter what obstacles she encountered, she would face it head on, flip it from a negative to a positive and be triumphant. Erica was always willing to help someone when they were down on their luck, even if they had treated her unfairly in the past, she was forgiving and supportive in their time of need. She was one of the most resilient, compassionate and strongest willed people you would have ever had the opportunity to meet. You could feel her presence and her aura before you even met her. It was her voice, her laughter, and her beauty that was all encompassing. She was described as one of the most beautiful, most gentle creatures on earth.

Erica enjoyed traveling and lived in Florida, California and Texas but Maine was her home. Erica always dreamed about returning to California for she always reflected on her stay there as life-changing. Even though she couldn’t swim, she absolutely loved going to the beach and spent vacations in Old Orchard Beach every summer. Family vacations were the highlight of every year, she would incessantly talk about and plan them. Each day of her vacation, she would specifically plan a “special day” for each person who went on vacation with them. Erica also loved to go “Elver” fishing with the family. She loved to go dancing, taking walks and chilling with her friends and was always the center of attention. The more chaotic a situation became, the more she thrived in the moment. Her nickname to all her close friends and family was “Rica”. Her hobbies included photography, especially candid photos of people, scrap booking and going mudding. She truly loved music and attending concerts and one of her favorite groups was Five Finger Death Punch. One of her favorite quotes, which she had tattooed on her arm, was “Sometimes the wrong choices bring us to the right places”.

Erica so loved her family dearly with all of her heart. Her family included her mother, Pauline Shain, her dad, Donald Shain, her sisters, Dawn Shain and Linda Andrews, niece Sheena Green, one of her best friends and cousin, Fred Lawless, Fiancé Eric Newell, daughters Briana Shain and Talynn Newell, mother-in-law Kathy Newell and father-in-law Robert Newell and fiancé Carol Francis, stepchildren Kiona, Naomi, Little Eric and Xavier Newell.

She embraced her step-children just as closely as her two biological daughters. She cared deeply for her entire family, including her step family.

Erica’s predeceased family includes her maternal grandmother Alberta (Pike) Blance and Grandfather George Blance, paternal grandmother Arlene Waycott and grandfather Omer Waycott. Her grandparents were always a guiding light through her life and she loved them dearly.

There are a lot of close friends and family who have not been specifically mentioned who were very close to her heart and were very much appreciated.

A celebration of Erica's life will be held 4 - 6 p.m. Sunday, September 8, 2024, at Mays Funeral Home, 26 Church St., Calais.