My Frister.



 

My favorite picture of Kay

Fr-ister (Friend+Sister) is a name that Kay and I came up with to describe our relationship.  She was also a neighbor, comic, creative, gifted, generous, and an entire alphabet soup of wonderful adjectives.  We lost her in a freak accident on the evening of June 13.  To say it was devastating is such an understatement.  It was a sucker punch in the gut. 

Kay was a sweet onion of a woman.  An exuberant package of many layers.  She went at everything full-tilt with such a huge amount of enthusiasm that you couldn't help but be swept along.  She made everything seem more exciting.  She was equal parts outspoken, creative, infuriating, funny, and talented.  She had a lovely singing voice.  Kay possessed a sharp mind and a tender heart.  She clothed numerous babies in beautifully knitted garments, as well as gifting her family and friends.  Her generosity was boundless and never-ending.  The number of lives she touched with her wonderful self is really astounding.



Kay with Phoebe I

When I had shoulder surgery, Kay arrived every morning (and she was NOT a morning person) ready to take over my farm chores.  And she repeated the process every morning and evening for a week.  When she entered a room, she was an explosion of bags of knitting projects, purse, keys -- she was so alive! And now that she is gone, the whole world seems to be off-kilter.  She was so completely integrated into my life that I feel as if I have lost a physical part of myself.  I don't know what I will do without her.

Kay left behind a husband, two children, five grandchildren, a large extended family, countless friends who were like family, and even more people whose lives she touched and who loved her for it.  If you met her, there is no way you could ever forget her.  Nor would you want to.  My heart, love and prayers go out to her family.  I love you, my Frister.