Cal Fire Battalion Chief Receives Hero's Funeral: Photo Gallery

Firefighters in dress uniforms lined Third Street outside St. Mary's Episcopal Church in Napa Tuesday morning for the funeral of Cal Fire Battalion Chief Karen Shubin, 47, who died of cancer Jan. 23.

Shubin's flag-draped casket was brought to the church in the back of a Cal Fire pickup truck adorned with red roses. A military color guard and a band of bagpipers and drummers playing "The Minstrel Boy" preceded the bier as firefighters stood at attention and onlookers clustered on nearby sidewalks.

Shubin's life ended after a two-year battle with brain cancer, according to Division Chief David Shew who talked to Patch.

She had worked for Cal Fire for 29 years, mostly in the Sonoma-Lake-Napa Unit, and most recently out of the Glen Ellen station, he said.

Shew said Shubin was diagnosed two years ago and did not go back to work after that.

She is survived by her husband David, a fire captain in San Rafael, and their four children.

Third Street, Oak Street and nearby cross streets were closed to traffic for the funeral observances.

Click here to read Shubin's obituary on the Tulocay Cemetery website. 

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