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Community Mourns Death of
Sean Stanelun
Spokane Videographer Dies at 48 Years Old
Please note: A service for Sean has been scheduled for Sunday, Feb. 14th at 2:00pm at St. John’s Cathedral, 127 E. 12th Ave., Spokane, WA 99202, with a coffee reception to follow. Cards can also be sent to the church’s address.
(Spokane, WA – January 24, 2010) Spokane videographer Sean Stanelun died in the early morning hours of Saturday, Jan. 23rd. Friends and family across the nation have been supporting Sean since he first entered the hospital in September 2009 with a Necrotizing soft tissue infection, a flesh-eating bacteria.
Over the past four and a half months he suffered several crises, including kidney failure; surgery to remove dead tissue; a skin graft; pancreatic surgery and placement of a chest tube. A ruptured pseudoaneurysm ultimately took his life ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pseudoaneurysm ). His support team, lovingly referred to as the Sean-Dawn Team, says “we’ve experienced a dozen miracles since September, always confident he’d soon come home. We are shocked his battle has come to an end.”
48-year-old Sean was self-employed; he owned and operated Manito Video Productions in Spokane. He and his wife, Dawn Picken, both started their careers in TV news. You may have seen their work across the country over the years. Stanelun left KREM TV in 2004. Picken left KREM for Greater Spokane Inc. in 2007. They’ve both produced dozens of stories about other families suffering, struggling in crisis, in need of financial support. They spent countless hours working pro-bono for families in need. This illness has resulted in not only physical and emotional turmoil, but significant financial cost – tens of thousands of dollars, even with health insurance. The Stanelun-Picken family wants to thank everyone for their gifts of time, talent, food and money.
Sean grew up in Bellevue, WA and worked in TV News in Baltimore, MD; Arlington, VA; Grand Rapids, MI; Seattle, WA; and finally Spokane, WA. Sean and Dawn met and fell in love at their news station WOOD-TV in Grand Rapids. They had recently celebrated their tenth wedding anniversary (in the hospital).
Sean is survived by his wife Dawn, and their two children, four-year-old Finley, and 6-year-old Fiona.
Dozens of friends and family are providing support: Dawn says, “We were not prepared for Sean’s death, even after four and a half months of serious illness. While we are heartbroken and stunned, we are also blessed and grateful for the tremendous amount of love we have received from family, friends, co-workers, and people we don’t even know. Thank you.”
As the community who loves Sean and Dawn and their kids, we continue to ask for your support. You can donate at any Numerica Credit Union to the Stanelun Benefit Fund or click on the “donate now” button.
Please keep up with your prayers and positive vibes.
In gratitude, The Sean-Dawn Support Team