By popular demand… or, really, a polite request… below is the Eulogy from the memorial service for Kathy. It’s 100% the same. I didn’t wear my glasses, so I may have messed up some words. And I always ad lib. 🙂

***

Eulogy

For those of you who know me, you probably know that I prefer to process in writing and I’m rather partial to reading my own writing. I hope to be one of those annoying authors who are determined to do their own reading for the audio edition of their book; and that can sometimes go very poorly. I’m not sure how reading this is going to go, so I’m hoping someone will bail me out if I don’t make it through. Kathy was perhaps the most enthusiastic supporter of my writing, but I know neither of us ever imagined me having to come up with words for today.

You know she had a very brief period of time with cancer. 34 days after she was diagnosed. And, clearly, there was not enough time with us. But, I’m not sorry that she didn’t have to suffer a long period of time in which she would have had to endure others witnessing her being in pain, weak, or vulnerable. She would have hated that.

Our great-nephew Jonah is probably thinking right now, “Gigi, we don’t say hate.” And he’s right. Especially where his Aunt Kaka is concerned. Kathy didn’t hate. She loved.

Kathy loved her family. I’m pretty sure she and her sister Jan talked daily, or near to it at least. The two of them shared a strong bond. With their parents gone, they relied on each other. Kathy had great stories about the two of them growing up. Kathy’s stories might have included one about her sister with a knife and an attempted stabbing, but I suspect Jan has more about Kathy getting into some sort of trouble like taking all the screws out of the cabinet doors to “fix” them.

I’ve often thought that Jan gave Kathy the greatest gift in the form of our niece Jenna. If you know Kathy you know Jenna, because she found it impossible to stop sharing how awesome Jenna is or how proud she has been of all that Jenna put her mind to accomplish. About 8 years ago, though, Jenna outdid all the best gifts by bringing Jonah to the world. Kathy couldn’t get enough of him and, Jonah, she loved you and your Mom so very much. Her favorite thing all week was Thursday afternoons when she’d pick up Jonah from school and bring him to our house for some fun. Kaka was always up for some ninja hoverboard, having a popsicle on the patio, or cuddling up for some screen time. This was an opportunity made possible by her retirement. But, to be honest, as much as she loved retirement…

Kathy loved Idaho Power. 36 years starting in customer service and moving on to various teams and projects. I don’t know if you are in this building, but someone is responsible for the conversion project and I’m still a little bitter about all that time she spent attached to her mobile phone for work. But she loved it, and she was proud of that work. In the past few weeks I’ve read so many messages from her Idaho Power family that talked of her energy, her smile, her kindness in mentoring others, and how she supported newer staff to help them achieve their goals. She felt privileged to be able to support the company through her work in the Records Center during her last few years. She helped them save money, she supported the company’s centennial celebration, and she was proud to have left things ready for the future now being realized. But, after 36 years, she took her leave to explore new endeavors, like volunteering.

Kathy loved her volunteer work. Her favorite may have been sharing Idaho history with others, especially kids. She wanted to be the first to sign up for a 4th grade tour of the Capitol building so she could share the building’s history, help kids understand how government works, and tell all the tales of that building she explored, not just as a docent, but as a kid when she’d visit the building on her own while her Mom worked nearby.

Kathy loved Idaho and Boise. The history is rich and she studied it on her own. She was devoted to learning what she could of this place where she was born and chose to make her home. She loved not just its history, but the landscape, the mountains and the desert.

Kathy loved her friends. She was a good friend and remembered all the important details. I’m not sure she ever met a stranger. She would talk to everyone and make them her friend. And then years later, she’d even remember the stranger’s name! After this service, I hope I get to talk with all of you, but I won’t know your names because she’s not here to remind me, and probably didn’t bring your dog, so I likely won’t have a clue who you are. Please introduce yourself and I will try hard to emulate that special talent Katahy had for connecting people; for remembering what is important about them and what is important to them. One of Kathy’s many gifts was her love of people. As many people wrote about her in their cards and social media messages, Kathy was good people, but, even more, she was a good people person. Among her people was her golf community.

Kathy loved golf. I have read a lot lately about her stubborn use of a 3 wood versus her driver, but Kathy loved that 3 wood and she got business DONE with it. Even when she didn’t, Kathy’s personality shined through. She was annoyingly patient. “Oh,” she’d say, “could have done that differently.” Not a complainer, she preferred to work on her skills and put energy into other people. She relished the opportunity to welcome new members to the golf league and get them oriented to the game and the procedures. Regardless of what she was doing, she wanted to help.

Kathy loved to serve. She wanted to help, to share history, to support new golfers, and to simply be there for her friends and her family and me. With all of the things she loved and for which she would passionately defend, I am honored to say…

Kathy loved me. For that, I am eternally grateful. She made my life brighter and funnier. She used to tell me jokes late at night so I’d end up laughing until there was no sound and tears running down. Kathy loved me, literally, in sickness and in health. From the chemo suite to the finish line of my first real run. She cheered me on in everything from work to writing to just a few weeks ago when she taught me how to do all the things for camping that she usually took care of. She made me safe and she helped me be brave. And I feel certain my heart will never be whole again. But my heart couldn’t feel this much if it hadn’t been blessed to be loved by her.

In the beautiful words written by artist Natalie Merchant:

“You were the love,
For certain, of my life.
You were simply my beloved wife.”

I will miss you every single day.