Your presence we miss, your memory we treasure, your love we felt.
Obituary
Shy Di, lovingly known as "Lesa," graced our lives when she joined her beloved brother and mother in a cozy apartment complex in Compton, California, in 1982. It was here that she blossomed through her formative years, attending Charles Drew Head Start, Caldwell Street School, Ralph J. Bunche Elementary, Enterprise Middle School, and proudly graduating with the Class of 2000 from Compton High School.
A vibrant soul, Shy was deeply rooted in her church community and cherished every moment spent with family and friends. Volleyball was a favorite pastime, and her spirit shined brightest when surrounded by loved ones—especially her dear girl cousins: Lesa Matua, Meka, Lefa, “Babey”, Glory, Revival, Elesa Laikiki, Mali, Lani, and Nina. She cultivated bonds with her friends, including Aina "Weird’o", Jenny, and PJ, taking joy in the time they spent together.
After high school, Shy embarked on a transformative journey to her ancestral homeland of Samoa. There, she connected with family and embraced her cultural heritage, learning the rich traditions of Tuana'i and Satpuala. She traveled to American Samoa to see her dad and meet siblings Ellen and John Larkin, and her adventures took her to New Zealand, fulfilling her mother's promise. Shy returned home, her heart full of love and dedication to preserving her family’s history.
In May 2005, She faced the profound loss of her mother, Penina, which ignited a new chapter in her life. Embracing the role of the family's anchor, she continued the legacy of love and connection her mother had built. By 2006, Shy dedicated herself to nurturing her nephew, Marlon, and niece, Karma, taking them on unforgettable road trips across Southern California and beyond, creating memories that would last a lifetime.
An avid reader, Shy devoured over 1,500 books in her pursuit of knowledge, often expressing her disappointment at movie adaptations of her favorite stories, exclaiming, “they did the story no justice.” Her passion for books was shared with Marlon and Karma, nurturing their imaginations and fostering a love for reading within them.
In 2012, during a visit to her sister Ellen in Utah, Shy decided to embrace a new beginning. She worked as an underwriter for Visa, ensuring a stable future for herself and Karma while reconnecting with extended family. Their summer adventures with "Papa" filled these years with joy and laughter, as they traveled and created cherished memories.
When the opportunity arose to work remotely in 2020, Shy chose to return to her roots in California, surrounded by her cherished family: Carter, Marlon, Jessica, Eva, Mama & Papa Lopez, Henry Jr., Hailey, Kaitlyn, and the Southern California Aiga. Her final years were spent in the warmth of her hometown of Compton, where she shared her love until her peaceful passing on October 24, 2024.
Shy Di "Lesa" will forever be remembered for her boundless love, her vibrant spirit, and the undeniable mark she left on all our lives. Her legacy of family, friendship, and fierce love will continue to inspire us every day.
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I thoroughly watched and cried watching your service. I only wish I was able to say one or two words of Gratitude & Appreciation for your love for my family & I. We never missed a beat when we met up. Sis Lesa summed it all up in her beautiful testimony for all of us. Your talents, gifts & character were a blessing to us all. I love you & will continue to hold you in my memory of love & genuineness. Thank you for your sisterhood & for the respect you showed Hex & I. Manuia lau malaga uso. Toe feiloai i se taimi o i luma.
Love you.
Herema
Love, Talalemotu Atulu n aiga I Amerika Samoa.
Remember when I tried to outdrink you in Compton and failed?haha you owed me a rematch. Remember our conversations when you came and visited in Tutuila? And you couldn't finish braiding my hair because it hurt so bad? And how you got the whole village trying to fight you, but we had your back? Or when I spanked you in spades many times?haha
You was a real one Shy! Always imitated but never duplicated. Tell your mom and my pops I say Hi!! Love you forever Fave! RiP❤️🙏
I'm sad you're gone but I'm glad you don't have to deal with the health issues here on earth. Another step closer to reuniting with Mama Penina. As you both sleep and await on his 2nd coming I hope to reunite with you as well. Til that sweet glorious morning my sis Lesa, or as Nikos grandpa would say "Til we eat again" lol I love you take your rest 🙏❤️
You’ve gained your wings. I’m so thankful to God for allowing us to share memories in this temporary place. You were such a joy to be around, and our jam sessions will always be so dear to me. Girl, you could sangggg! One song that will forever remind me of you is “Your Man” by Josh Turner – I can’t help but smile every time I hear it.
And I’ll never forget when I hit 16, had that case of Corona, and offered you a drink. All you could worry about was, “Boy, Unko Mack finna whoop my a**!” Haha, you loved that guy to the T! lol
I will always cherish the text you sent me, telling me how proud you were of me. It meant so much coming from one of my oldest cousins. You reminded me so much of my Aunty Penina! We miss you dearly and will forever hold the memories we've shared close to our hearts. Watch over us all, and may you find peace in your place with our Father in Heaven.
Love you!
While thinking about how special Shy was to me, I remembered these photos/memories…I last saw Shy almost to the day three years ago when she came by to visit me in Long Beach. Thank you Shy…you were always very kind and loving. Amongst so many admirable qualities that Shy possessed, I’d like to share about how I admired and enjoyed hearing her speak the Samoan language. I have never heard anyone speak the language like Shy did. She had great commend of it. The way she strewn her words together was very poetic and very comical at times. I respected and adored you. Thank you for all the love and laughters. Thank you for the many gifts that you shared with so many that have been blessed to have known you. I will miss you. Love you sis.
I’m so blessed I got to make memories with you. I’m going to miss you SHY DI say wsup to my peoples up there.
Love you fly with angels.
🙏🏽💙😇🦋🇼🇸❤️🪽
MANUIA LOU MALAGA
I miss you to the maxx!! I don’t think I will ever not be missing your physical presence here on Earth. Although we won’t get to make any more memories together; you will forever be with me. My heart will long for your love and your laughter. And my soul will know you and wait for you until we meet again. Blessed be. I love you always.
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