Shawne Frelier (née Ouwenga), 60, of Houston, TX, passed away on January 12, 2026 after her journey with breast cancer.

Shawne was born on May 17, 1965, to John and Marcia Ouwenga in Grand Rapids, Michigan. She and her five siblings were raised in Rochester, New York. After graduating from New Covenant in 1983, she went on to study Nursing at Roberts Wesleyan.  After graduation in 1987, she married the love of her life, Andrew Peter Frelier, and they moved to Lubbock, TX, where he finished his Master's in Geology. They moved to New Orleans, LA, where she practiced nursing for five years before having four children, Johannah Mead, Kathleen Grace, Dana Renee, and Marlaine Haven. After 17 years in New Orleans, the family evacuated for Hurricane Katrina and relocated to Houston, TX. In 2012, she studied to reinstate her nursing license, demonstrating her determination and continuous desire to serve others. In 2015, she began enjoying summers up at their home in Ontario, NY, where she could be close to her mom, siblings, and extended family.

She will be remembered above all for her deep love of being a mother and her servant heart that she modeled after Jesus. Family was always at the center of her life, and some of her most cherished memories were made during countless family game nights and lifelong family vacations to Kring Point State Park. We will miss her delicious baked goods, piano playing, and TJ Maxx runs. In recent years, she embraced with great joy the new chapter of being a grandmother, delighting in time spent with her two beloved granddaughters. Throughout her cancer journey, she showed remarkable courage and faith, openly sharing her trust in God and words of hope through Facebook, touching and encouraging many along the way. She spoke fervently to finish the race well, even through the suffering endured, she did exactly that.

Shawne was predeceased by her brother, Cliff Ouwenga. She is survived by her husband of 38 years, Andrew; her four children, Johannah (Joseph), Kathleen (Eric), Dana (David) and Marlaine; her four siblings, Kurt, Heidi, Julie, and Heather; her mother, Marcia; and two granddaughters. The family requests that flower donations be made through Kittelberger Florists. (585) 872-1823. There will be a Memorial Service on January 19, 2026 at 11am at Rochester Christian Reformed Church with a Reception to follow. Live streaming will be available for the Memorial Service.

You may also choose to honor her memory with a donation to the Lobular Breast Cancer Alliance (LBCA). Shawne faced Stage IV Invasive Lobular Breast Cancer (ILC). While ILC accounts for 15% of breast cancer diagnoses, it receives less than 1% of all breast cancer research funding. We pray that contributions help improve outcomes for others facing this disease.

Donation link: https://lobularbreastcanceralliance-bloom.kindful.com/