Please leave your note to Kat below, in the Tribute section!
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Kathleen's Celebration of Life was held Sunday, September 22, 2013 at Salmon Bay School in Ballard.
It was a wonderful event, organized by her sister Madeline with the help of so many who knew Kat. Kat's family is very grateful for the help, and for the phenomenal turnout (over 400)
In Kat's 22 years, she touched many, many people. We all love her. We'll always, always, always remember her.
Please leave a tribute to Kat McCarthy. And invite others to visit Kat's Memorial.
In lieu of flowers, or to simply remember Kathleen, please donate to these organizations which meant an awful lot to Kathleen: Street Soccer Seattle, Sanctuary Art Center, New Horizons Ministries, University District Youth Center (UDYC), or Street Youth Ministries.
Tributes
Leave a tributeI thought time would ease the pain. It's been 10 years. It hurts a little less, but there's still a gaping hole. There's still raw sorrow and immense loss, but increasingly, other thoughts pop up. Like what a 32 YO version of you would be doing now. What you'd be like. What you'd be immersed into. Would you even be living in this country? (would you have moved back to Haiti? It's a mess now!) Would you be in love now, in 2023? Married? (Carly Israel & I talked about you at her wedding last month).
I imagine you'd have found happiness and that 2023 would be another wonderful year for you. You deserved, and still deserve, happiness and peace.
I'll always love you. I thought these past 10 years would diminish the pain of my memories of you. Ha! No such chance! But now those painful memories share space with newer thoughts/dreams of how you'd be living in 2023.
I'll love you forever, girl!
Happy birthday! Geeze 32 ? I just had my 34th last week. I temporarily moved to wisconsin for my bsn program. Took years to finally get in and here i am in my thirties still in school. Im exhausted. I have zero friends here..smakes me appreciate what little i do have at home and of course… you. No one can compare and you can never be replaced. Wish you were here now. I will always miss you. If i think too much about you it just hurts.
It's been 9 years. A long time, but seems so recent. Time heels wounds, or so I'm told. But how much time must pass? I try to imagine what a 9-years-older-you would be like - your life, loves, career, art, and your travels. Madeline moved to New Zealand. Where would you live, if you were drawn to places in the big wide world? Back to help in Haiti again? To build houses with your other 'Amigos de las Americas' volunteers in Nicaragua or Honduras? The world is a lesser place without you in it!
Mom & I think of you all the time. We love you, and always will!
Dad & Mom
Thinking of you today. The tears still come for Mom & I, esp Mom. To try to cope, we think of the positive memories, like camping, or nuturing-to-health the injured quail chicks, or your puupy & fish pets, or tree house sleepouts, or so many other things. We miss you terribly....
Love, Dad & Mom
I'm in Kenmare Ireland w/ your Uncles, Aunt Mo, cousins and their kids (your nieces & nephews)
Kenmare is where our grandfather (your great grandfather) grew up. We (our group of 18) will meet local cousins for the 1st time, w/ lots of discussions of family, then & now.
On this day, I'll be thinking of you, of course. And this week, I'll be talking to close & distant relatives about you. I'll try not to get too choked up - I don't want to cut my stories short. I'll try to stay strong for you, and proudly describe what a great
& unique person you were, loved by so many.
So up in heaven, you may hear me talking about you over the next five days, in Ireland.
I love you, always!
Dad
I can't believe its been 5 years without you. I woke up so early today with my heart so sad. I can only imagine how many more memories we would have had if you were still here. I miss you every day, especially your smile. We had the best times...i hope you think of me. Lucky for you, you have my twin sister with you to pretend to be me! I am sure she is awesome. love you forever~~Melly
Patrick Maes
Thinking of you today (I think of you every day, but more frequently on the anniversary).
Mom and I will meet with Debra, Ed, Zack, Kristina and Kit this evening, you may hear us talking about you!
It's been four years. Maybe the pain is diminishing, but maybe not. I was downtown last Friday and walked by your old apartment building, and memories flooded back.
Koda is doing well, but getting old. Arthritis in his back legs, he needs to be carried up the stairs nowadays. Save a spot for him up there, next to you. Say hi for me to both your grandmothers and Uncle Tom.
We will forever love you!
Dad
John 3:16
For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.
John 3:16
For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.
Mom and I are thinking of you today - More than usual.... It's been 3 years now. They say time heals. I hope so. Soon?
You are Forever Missed!
Love,
Dad & Mom
I'm sitting here with your sister and Kellie at Madelines beautiful new home. Your presence is instantly apparent here. Your trinkets are all over the shelves, I recognize a lot. Your beautiful face is everywhere too. It makes me feel warm and comforted. We celebrate you for yet another year you have been absent from. Love you lots, always.
Melodie
. It’s been a sunny and dry summer so far (a drought, actually). Two years ago today, you left us. Today it’s dark, cloudy, cold and raining. Tears are falling from the sky. There was lightening & thunder a moment ago, very unusual for our area. Coincidence? Or is it you being sad and missing us?
. The sharp pains of remembering you are slowly diminishing with time. Maybe that’s good, but it makes me melancholy and mildly guilty. Is it okay that my pain is a little less? Is this my healing?
. Every day, every hour I think of you. But the memories are changing. The painful memories are giving way to more happy memories of your time with us. Like our backpacking trips. Or being your instructor at the race track, where you were getting my 2002 up onto 3 wheels in the twisties of the autocross course. Or skiing & snowboarding with Tom and Madeline. Or visiting France. Or fundraising at the racetrack for your charity trip to S America. https://youtu.be/Cc9BJLstRIk Or any thousands of memories.
. Today, I want to celebrate your life. But it’s the day of your death. So conflicted. Mom & I wish you were here. I hope you’re happy where you are, with your Grandmother Joan and Uncle Tom. Don’t feel bad for me. Celebrate your life, and all the wonderful people you loved (and loved you) in your journey with us. I’ll see you when it’s time.
. Love forever and ever,
. Dad
Not a day goes by that Mom & I don't think of you. We tell stories to each other about you. Like when you helped with wiring a switch for the pantry. Or when you went into the crawlspace with me after the new plastic was put down. Or Freddy, your goldfish. Or when you nursed the wounded quail back to health, then released them. On and on...
Love you always,
Dad
Well Seattle Seahawks TAKE the challenge again... You know I'm a 9er fan all the way , however, Hawks vs Patriots Can they do it again hmm... Will b an interesting game, I'm probably going to make caldo de colas ( ox tail soup ) Luv & miss you every day... Cariño Sam & Teri.
. I hope you have a great birthday celebration with your Grandma (who by now you've met, I hope) and Uncle Tom.
. It's a sunny day down here on your birthday. All the people you loved and who loved you are remembering you today (and actually, most every day). Can you sense that?
. Mom, Madeline and I will do do something together this evening to commemorate your day.
. With eternal love,
. Dad
24 is a good year, that's how old I feel and I'm 26 now. Geeze I remember when we were both under 20. I had my birthday recently too as you probably know. It was great full of love. Of course you were the only one missing! I'm sure you have lots of company up there and a replacement melly for the time being. My twin sis joy is there. Does she look exactly like me?
Well I miss you always like crazy...sending my love to the beyond :)
Luv Mel
In His Love, Aunt Karen
John11:25 Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:
26 And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die.
2 call in & get Keith Sweat concert tickets 4 here @ sundome in yaks & when I could'nt get thru it reminded me how we called Kube 93 for a concert I never heard of but u said I'd like it , , it wuz the same weekend as daybreak star & I had 2 work so I got tickets 4 nothing. I wuz so upset.... Just a memory... LU Kat moma T. I miss you dearly so does Sam he said hello luv.
a GREAT friend " 21 GORE ". I know your happy & surrounded by alot of love, just wish we could share you, Sam said 2 tell you hello again & he sends his love. My missy is having her first litter of pups , she's due on Sams birthday. He keeps a candle lit 4 you still most of the day and all nite. We luv & miss you sooo mucho.... Cariño mija, Amor Siempre Chula
Your absence affects so many things. Consider just the month of March;
- On St Patrick's Day, we usually went Mass in downtown Seattle, organized by the Irish Heritage Club of Seattle. We'd hear the Catholic and Protestant perspective (Irish & English) of the occasion and the "troubles" in Northern Ireland. Bagpipes, the concentration of Irish, someone dressed as St Patrick, and of course, the wonderful Service.
- Madeline participated in the St Paddy's Day dash this year. You would have cheered her on!
- Madeline's 25th Birthday. A gathering at our house first. The Memorial bookcase with notes and items from the attendees at your Celebration of Life was lit up, including your picture (http://bit.ly/1iiy2a5). Did you hear the birthday guests thinking of you? Then on to Karaoke on Greenwood. Debra, Ed, Zach, Leif, Janice, Kristina flew up, - too many to name. About 40 people total. You'd have been there, and would've enjoyed yourself immensely.
- Sadly, Dave H's uncle died in March. I'm sure you would have joined us to mourn, provide support, and attend the funeral and Irish wake.
Kat, we miss you terribly. I know you're looking down and you're with us in spirit. I love you always,
Dad
Not a day goes by without thinking of you. Heck, not an hour without thinking of you multiple times.
Dave H called the other day about connecting a TV to cable in Kelsey’s room. It instantly brought back memories of when you and I built out his cable network (TV) and computer network (internet). We terminated cable ends with RJ45 jacks and coax connectors, tested the lines, and connected them to the main patch panel. You quickly grasped the technology and techniques. I was glad to have your help.
So I gave Dave guidance over the phone about his cable TV wiring. You were right here with me as I described how we wired & connected all Dave's rooms. It’s just one example of how a memory of you can pop into my mind over ANYTHING. Are you doing that?
Like in the bald eagle story in the Stories Section? http://www.forevermissed.com/katmccarthy/#stories
-original from me
You would have been 23 years old on this day, 11-12-13, and one day closer to your goal of changing your life and changing the world. I love and miss you, Mom
" ... Absent from the body , present with The Lord "
Love Aunt Karen and Uncle Dennis
I want you to know that I am doing what I can - that you, connected to all of these people reaching now, are a reminder to us that we need to keep going. That things are not okay, not yet, and that we have so much to heal. You are Loved and missed <3.
We are very sad we never met you.
Your life wasn't easy and it was too short. We wish you a peaceful journey.
Our hearts go to Brian, Lisa, Madeline.
Rolf Gottschling and Bärbel Schumacher
Leave a Tribute
I thought time would ease the pain. It's been 10 years. It hurts a little less, but there's still a gaping hole. There's still raw sorrow and immense loss, but increasingly, other thoughts pop up. Like what a 32 YO version of you would be doing now. What you'd be like. What you'd be immersed into. Would you even be living in this country? (would you have moved back to Haiti? It's a mess now!) Would you be in love now, in 2023? Married? (Carly Israel & I talked about you at her wedding last month).
I imagine you'd have found happiness and that 2023 would be another wonderful year for you. You deserved, and still deserve, happiness and peace.
I'll always love you. I thought these past 10 years would diminish the pain of my memories of you. Ha! No such chance! But now those painful memories share space with newer thoughts/dreams of how you'd be living in 2023.
I'll love you forever, girl!
SUPERBOWL WIN....
For now; for always.
Kat,
I think about you every single day and miss you every moment!! Everytime I think I am not doing well I remember you and youre amazing spirit and grace despite everything you had gone through. I still can barely even talk about you without crying. You will always be my best friend and I am sad we will not be together again for a while but I know youre always near me; watching out for me; enjoying everything you are doing and protecting us all from all the darkness here on the Earth. I have planned to name my first daughter Emmalyn Kathleen because you have meant more to me than anyone and I truly love you. I know youre always around but I cant help missing the shit out of you and wishing i could pick up the phone and hear your voice or see your face... for now for always, your best friend Aubs