Michelle K. (Evans) Callari

Michelle “Shelly” Kathleen Callari, 58, of Newfield, New Jersey, passed away on March 28th, 2026, surrounded by loved ones after pancreatic cancer. Even in the face of illness, Shelly did things her way. She left this world on her terms and in her own time.

Born on March 23, 1968, in Collingswood, Shelly was the daughter of Gordon Russell Evans, Jr., and Mary Jane (Allely) Evans and the wife of Nicholas Author Callari.   She was preceded in death by her parents and by her husband.

Shelly is survived by her siblings, Wendie Evans Price, Michael Evans, Kristen Arter, and Matthew Evans. While she did not have children of her own, she loved her nieces and nephews deeply and was proud to be part of their lives. She also loved her dogs intensely over the years, treating them as her children. Many of the people and beloved dogs she held closest were tattooed on her, a permanent way to keep them close.

Growing up, Shelly was more of a tomboy and someone who got along with everyone. She never fit into just one group at school because she was a friend to all kinds of people. She did not care who someone was; she accepted everyone. She was doted on by her older sister, who would play dress-up with her and use the family slide camera to take countless pictures. Shelly had a love for cars, hot rods, motorbikes, and all things fast, much like her older brother. With a 10-year age gap between them, Shelly also became like a second mother to her younger siblings, helping create many of the family memories they still hold close. The family even had its own language with one another, from inside jokes and full conversations in just movie quotes or songs to the familiar laugh “cackle” they still share.

Shelly began her career in nursing, a path that fits her caring nature. Looking after others was simply part of who she was. That was especially clear in the care she gave her mother through the long and painful years of dementia. Even after changing careers, that caretaker instinct never left her.

Later, Shelly moved into office management and became a much-loved administrator at //Radiotakeover, Face the Music Touring, High Roller Studios, and Labyrinth Sound, where she enjoyed being part of a creative world filled with up-and-coming musicians, creators, and talent. She valued the relationships she built there and loved being connected to people with a passion for what they do.

Shelly was the rebel of the family, the one who never lived by anyone else’s script or rules. She beat to her own drum and did things her own way. She loved antiques, spent time in 4-H, drove in demolition derbies, and even enjoyed ghost hunting with her husband. She was not only funny but fun, tough, loving, a little wild at heart, and impossible to forget.

Shelly was a creative herself.  She made ornate carousel horses, made teddy bears and other stuffed toys, and often upcycled furniture and other items to decorate her home uniquely. 

More than anything, Shelly will be remembered for her unwavering loyalty, her bravery, her humor, and the profound love she gave to the people and animals she claimed as her own. She was fully herself until the very end, and that is exactly how she would have wanted it.

A celebration of Shelly’s life will be held later this spring or early summer. For those who have asked how they can help, the family kindly asks that, in lieu of flowers, contributions be made to the family’s GoFundMe, "Support for Nicholas Callari’s Funeral and Family," established following the unexpected losses of Nick and Shelly.

Shelly leaves behind a family who loves her deeply and will miss her terribly.

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