With immeasurable love and heartbreak, we announce the passing of a woman who was not just loved, not just admired — but rare.

Anna Maria Shaw, born on October 4, 1986, in Mielec, Poland, passed away peacefully in the arms of her loved ones on February 20, 2026. Anna was the beloved daughter of Halina Theresa Lacz and Janusz Franciszek Lacz. Brilliant and fiercely capable, Anna thrived from the young age of six when her family moved to Long Island, N.Y. Through her resilience and diligence, she quickly adapted and was able to effortlessly grasp the English language. She shined academically and began to demonstrate the qualities that would enable her to succeed.

She excelled in her career with the same sharp intelligence and discipline that defined every area of her life. She had a gift for understanding complexity — especially when it came to finances — and became the steady hand not only in her own household but for many in her family. She was the one people trusted. The one who could untangle the numbers, organize complexities, and make everything feel manageable again.

Anna was a grounded force in a sea of chaos. The one who saw through nonsense and still showed up anyway. She carried a strength that didn’t need applause, and integrity that didn’t bend for trends or noise. That wasn’t ordinary strength. That was a built-in character. But her greatest title was “Mom.” She homeschooled her two sons with intention and courage, raising them to think independently and live boldly. From the time they were babies, she traveled the world with them, believing deeply that life was meant to be experienced, not postponed. She wanted her boys to understand the world first hand.

She was an extraordinary daughter – loyal, devoted, present. She honored her parents’ sacrifices, going above and beyond to make their lives comfortable and filled with love and closeness. To her siblings, Anna could be described as a guiding figure. She took immense pride in that role she played. She was the backbone so many leaned on, often without even realizing it.

Above all, she loved fiercely and lived intentionally. She was the partner of James Shaw, and together they built a meaningful life rooted in strength and mutual respect. Their love is authentic in a way that is increasingly rare — honest and unapologetically real. Her legacy lives on most powerfully in her two beloved sons, who carry her intelligence, her fearlessness, her independence, and her uncompromising authenticity. She built them strong. She raised them curious. She showed them the world.

As we grieve this loss, we find that our newfound emptiness was immediately filled with the memories and lessons she left us with. She leaves behind a family forever changed by her presence and forever shaped by her example.

Some people pass through life gently. Anna lived boldly yet honestly. She was not just important. She was irreplaceable.

We love you to the stars and back.

A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. on Wednesday, February 25, 2026, at the Cavin-Cook Funeral Home Chapel, Mooresville.

Cavin-Cook Funeral Home, Mooresville, is serving the Shaw family. Condolences may be made to the family at www.cavin-cook.com.