Shannon Toronto was born on June 28, 1966, in Provo, Utah, to Chris and Judy Toronto. It was a beautiful summer evening, and the sun was just going down behind Mount Timpanogos outside the delivery room window. Judy was elated that her daughter Lynette would have a best friend. The two girls were born eleven months apart and would be close from the beginning. Shannon moved into Lynette’s crib, and Lynette had a small youth bed next to the new baby. The two little girls would communicate in infant language, and they entertained each other constantly.

ln that same year, Shannon moved to Sherman Oaks, California and Shannon and her siblings had a happy childhood swimming at Zuma beach, playing in the park, and touring Disneyland. Lynette, Shannon, Richard, and Jonathan rode the roller coasters at Magic Mountain in the summer, and the four of them all went to Riverside Drive Elementary School together in the fall.

ln 1977, Shannon moved with her family to Oregon. The schools were exceptional in Lake Oswego, and Shannon spent her junior high and high school years with excellent teachers who helped her gain a love for literature and history. She graduated from Lake Oswego High School in 1984.

From 1984 until 1988 Shannon completed her undergraduate studies at Brigham Young University, and also participated in London Study Abroad. She graduated with Honors and a Bachelor of Arts in English, and in 1991 she completed her BYU Master of Arts in English as well.

Shannon has always said that one of her finest accomplishments in life was achieved during the time she worked at the Waterford lnstitute as Marketing Director. While there, she participated on the design team for the “Rusty and Rosy Read with Me” program that taught children how to sing the alphabet song! She traveled to school districts around the country and sold this creative video which would teach thousands of children how to read.

ln 1997 she arose early in the morning and drove to Hill Air Force Base to oversee a team of writers, who, along with engineers, mechanics, and military leaders wrote a successful proposal to bring aircraft to Hill Air Force Base. She next worked as the Executive Director of the Marriner Eccles Foundation during the bustling years leading to the 2002 Salt Lake Olympics. She served as a Public Affairs Media volunteer for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints during the Olympics.

Shannon’s life changed when , in 2002, she packed up her belongings in a Ryder truck and moved to Arlington, Virginia. As a member of the Arlington Ward, she was a ward missionary for newly baptized sisters from Mongolia, and she accompanied them when they went to receive their temple blessings.

For a time, Shannon’s parents lived in the DC area and served in the Washington DC Temple. Shannon was able to serve with them in the temple and this sweet service was rich in daily peace and joy as they were able to be in the Lord’s House together. Shannon’s time in DC was filled with satisfying personal and spiritual experiences.

During a period of employment with the Leadership lnstitute, Shannon became acquainted with policy leaders and politicians. She then joined the Philanthropy Roundtable as Chief Operating Officer and worked in downtown Washington, D.C. She brought national philanthropists to Salt Lake City for their Annual Meeting where John Huntsman was a speaker.

Shannon received the Honored Alumna Award from the College of Humanities at Brigham Young Universities in 2009. She spoke during the Homecoming celebrations on the subject “Quiet Acts of Philanthropy” – a subject near and dear to her heart.

At the end of her time in Washington D.C., as a volunteer for Church Public Affairs, Shannon helped with the unveiling of a new DC Temple model, and she took friends through the Philadelphia Temple Open House. On Fridays, she served as a temple worker in the DC Temple, an assignment that filled her with joy and further inspired her life-long love for the temple and the Savior.

Shannon returned to Utah in 2016 and found a residence in the boundary of her beloved Lehi 43’d Ward. The people around her quickly became family to her. Their adorable, bright, and friendly children worked their way into her heart as they came to her door and made her feel loved and welcome. Adults in her neighborhood embraced her and invited her to join their family “Come Follow Me” lessons. Shannon was delighted when she was called to teach primary and the children in her neighborhood were the joy of her life. Her Lehi friends were loyal and supportive to her as she was going through her difficult health challenges. It was as if Shannon had family close by. Her kind Polish neighbors next door brought her nourishing and delicious soup, and the dear children sent her hand-drawn cards of encouragement to cheer her.

Since moving to Utah, Shannon has enjoyed hiking, gardening, flower arranging, and spending time with her twelve incredible nieces and nephews and their children. She loves traveling and especially enjoyed her time exploring New Zealand, Tahiti and major cities in Europe. Shannon continued to serve as a patron in all the local temples and completed extensive family history research.

ln September of 2021., Shannon was diagnosed with Amyloidosis, a rare blood disorder that caused congestive heart failure. She bravely endured this serious disease with the help of people she had known throughout her life. She was surrounded by their service and love, and she relied on her unfailing testimony that her Father in Heaven heard her prayers and loved and watched over her often in miraculous ways.

Shannon had a productive and blessed life. She looks forward with her favorite word “curiosity” to the even greater joys that await her in her life that will go on with all those she loves – forever. Her faith in Jesus Christ was always a central focus in her life, and early on, she found power in the covenants she made with Him, seeing the outpouring of blessings from keeping His commandments in both times of prosperity and even in adversity.

She is survived by her parents, Chris and Judy Toronto of South Jordan, Utah; her sister, Lynette (DeVerl Austin) of Eagle, ldaho; her brother, Richard (Deanna) Toronto of Gilbert, Arizona; and brother, Jonathan J. Toronto (Allison) serving in the Church Legal office in Manilla in the Philippines.

Funeral services will be held Saturday, February 12, 2022, at the Lehi 43’d Ward Chapel, 31-80 North 300 West, Lehi Utah 84043. Family and friends may attend a visitation at the church from 9:45 until 1045 a.m. Services will begin at 11:00 a.m. The interment will be held at the Spanish Fork, Utah, City Cemetery.

A livestream event is created below.

Shannon's funeral will be live-streamed.  To view her services, please return to this page shortly before 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, February 12, 2022; and click on the link below: