City of Oaks Funeral Home & Cremation
Obituary
Shawn Callender
Raleigh, North Carolina
Age 46.
Died 01/13/2025.
February 11th, 1978 - January 13th, 2025
Shawn Michael Callender, 46, formerly of Pittsburgh, PA, died of a sudden medical event in Raleigh, NC on January 13, 2025. Born on Clark AFB in the Philippine Islands to Karen Schwarzl (Kistler), and John W. Callender, Shawn lived an amazing life filled with love, friends, music, and family.
Shawn, a beacon of kindness and love, will forever reside in our hearts. His legacy, exemplified by his music and compassion, will continue to inspire and guide us. As we grapple with the loss of his physical presence, we find solace in knowing that his spirit lives on through his music. He has forever changed all of us who were blessed to call him son, brother, friend, grandson, uncle, and cousin.
Shawn's greatest passion was music. His love for it blossomed early, and his talent shone brightly throughout his life. He dedicated years to his craft, touring the United States with his bands: Eleven:54 and Ego vs Id from Baltimore, as well as The McNaughstys, an Irish punk band based in Los Angeles. After a 20 year absence, Eleven:54's impact on the Baltimore music scene remains significant, as evidenced by their recent inclusion on a list of the city's top 30 bands. The McNaughstys are fondly remembered as one of California's most entertaining live acts, having graced many of the state's most prestigious venues.
While continuing his musical artistry, Shawn dedicated himself to serving others as a Mobile Phlebotomist in the Raleigh-Durham area. He found deep fulfillment in his work, providing compassionate care to patients of all ages. Known for his gentle touch and warm spirit, Shawn brought a spark of joy to those he encountered. He had a special place in his heart for the elderly, always taking the time to listen, share a story, or simply offer a comforting presence. His patients cherished his visits, many remembering him as a kind and compassionate man who always took time to enjoy their company.
His memory will live on in the hearts of all those who loved him.
Messages from his lifelong friends:
‘‘We try not to think about the loss we’ve endured, and prefer to see it as the universe reclaiming a spirit only the vast expanse is capable of housing. This world was much too small for such a man.”
“I strived to be as unapologetically myself as he did with such ease…”
“Despite having the armor of a thousand warriors, Shawn had the kindest, most loyal heart, and he would have done absolutely anything for those he loved…”
Shawn Callender was preceded in death by his father, John Callender and his grandfather, Michael Kistler.
Surviving: Mother Karen Schwarzl, step-father Eric Schwarzl, brother John W. Callender III, grandmother Patricia Kistler, many beloved aunts, uncles, cousins. His extended family includes his band mates from Eleven:54, Ego vs Id, and The McNaughstys, as well as roommates and lifelong friends Drew Bowie and Sarah Plonk.
Date for the celebration of Shawn’s life is undetermined at this time.
For additional information or for service details, please reach out to the family directly.
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City of Oaks Cremation and Funeral Home is a full-service funeral home in Raleigh, serving all of North Carolina and beyond. We provide an alternative to costly funeral homes and every day we help families in Raleigh, Durham, Chapel Hill and all over North Carolina make simple, affordable funeral arrangements.
Simply having to reach out to a funeral home can feel overwhelming. Our goal is to simplify the entire funeral home experience and make the process as easy as possible. We hope to eliminate any unnecessary surprises by publishing our total cost and the services we provide directly on our website. All of our obituaries are provided free of charge as a way to help families celebrate and commemorate the lives of their loved ones.
Our Promise
Apples to Apples
Just like all other licensed funeral homes in North Carolina, City of Oaks Cremation, LLC is regulated by the NC Board of Funeral Service.
The same laws that apply to the big corporate funeral homes also apply to the modest independently owned firms like ours. All crematories in North Carolina, regardless of who owns them, are inspected annually by the state and must adhere to the same rules and laws.
Genuine Care
We're committed to providing families within our community unsurpassed service before, during and after the time of loss.
Our staff will provide clear communication to your family through each step as we move forward from the original phone call notifying us of a death to the time we deliver the urn back to your family. We will treat your family with the utmost respect, as we honor the wishes of your loved one.
We promise to make this process affordable and as endurable as possible.
State Wide
Our Funeral Home is located in Wake County NC; however, we provide our services to families throughout the entire State.
Unlike other funeral homes, we don't charge an additional mileage fee. Regardless of what county you live in, we can help your family with making simple, affordable funeral arrangements. From Asheville to Wilmington, we're proud to help families statewide.
Our Services
$1196.75
Nobody likes surprise costs added in at the last minute. We guarantee you will not find any hidden charges here. We include everything you need for a simple or direct cremation. Simple, affordable and reliable. We have not changed the cost of our direct cremation service since we opened City of Oaks in 2012.
$2875.66
We offer the option of choosing how you receive your loved ones remains. Selecting our Direct Cremation with Solidified Remains option is a beautiful way to transform cremated remains into 40-60 “stones” that you can hold.
$1917.84
City of Oaks Funeral Home and Cremation provides an affordable cremation option with onsite visitation. Nobody likes surprise costs added in at the last minute. We guarantee you will not find any hidden charges here. Simple, affordable and reliable.
$2497.50
An immediate burial has the same end result as a traditional burial; however, we have eliminated the extra (sometimes unnecessary) services prior to getting to the cemetery. Not everyone wants an open casket for viewing or a limousine for the family. Despite the term immediate, we can move as fast as you need or as slow as you like. This option simply allows you to save money by eliminating some of the fancy extras at the funeral home.
$6081.48
We offer the same traditional funeral services as the big corporately owned funeral homes in the area; however, we cost about half the amount. You might consider a traditional funeral service if your family is looking for an open casket visitation, a traditional church service or a funeral service in the funeral home's chapel. A traditional funeral service can be altered to fit the needs of your family.
$3033.75
This establishment is one of a select number of funeral homes who meet the criteria for providing green funeral service by the Green Burial Council; a tax-exempt, nonprofit organization working to encourage environmentally sustainability in the field of funeral service. Our Green options allow for a funeral to take place without the use of toxic and non-biodegradable materials/chemicals.
$2640.59
As an alternative to traditional cremation, City of Oaks Funeral Home also offers Aquamation. The Aquamation process, often referred to as alkaline hydrolysis, uses a solution of water and potassium hydroxide to facilitate natural decomposition.