Shawn Patrick Hookey passed away peacefully at home on Sunday, February 15, 2026, surrounded by the love of his life, longtime girlfriend and best friend Debbie, and his family, after a brief but hard-fought battle with cancer.
Shawn was the loving son of Marlene Hookey and Robert Tappen, and was predeceased by his father, Ray Hookey and his brother, Shane Hookey. He will be deeply missed by his sister Shannon (Ron Eichner), his aunt Chrissy, his cousins Tabitha and Brody, and his best friend, whom he called brother, Peter Martin. Shawn loved his friends fiercely, and he was loved just as deeply in return.
He worked as a shipper/receiver at Salit Steel, a job he truly enjoyed, surrounded by coworkers who became friends. When Shawn was diagnosed with cancer on October 26, 2025, he faced it with remarkable strength and courage. True to who he was, he wanted to do things his way – and anyone who knew Shawn knew just how stubborn he could be. He fought as hard as his body would allow, especially for Debbie, who stood by his side and cared for him with unwavering love throughout his journey.
Shawn had an infectious laugh, a wicked sense of humour, and razor-sharp wit – truly one of the funniest people you could ever meet. He had the biggest heart and was always thinking of others. He loved his two fur boys, Hunter and Prince, beyond measure and cherished them until their final days. His passion for music and movies ran deep; he could recite lines and song lyrics effortlessly. Some of his favourite moments were simple ones – spending weekends on the couch with Debbie, watching movies and documentaries together. Shawn spent his final days at home, just as he wished, surrounded by love. His family would like to extend heartfelt thanks to Dr. Scher for his care and compassion.
A Celebration of Shawn’s life took place Saturday, February 28th, at the Welcome Centre of Fort Erie. Donations to the Canadian Cancer Society would be appreciated by his family. Benner Funeral Services was entrusted with arrangements.
Shawn loved hard and lived fully. He will be greatly missed and forever remembered.
“I love you Shawn. Same.”
