Age 48, died at her residence in Phoenix, AZ, in the love and comfort of her family, on Saturday, November 8, 2014; the cause was metastatic cancer.
Born September 7, 1966, in Seattle, Washington, Kim was a graduate of Bishop Blanchet High School (1984) and received her Bachelor of Science degree in education from The Ohio State University (1989) where she was a member of the Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority. Shortly after her graduation, Kimberly married Brian Carroll, son of Mr. & Mrs. John Carroll (Toledo, Ohio) at historic St. Patrick’s Church in Toledo, Ohio. Kimberly began her career in secondary education at the former Mt. St. John Academy (Gladstone, NJ) followed by St. Joan of Arc School (Toledo, OH). Kim especially enjoyed working with fifth & sixth grade children; sharing her love of literature with children was one of her lifelong passions. Kimberly and her husband relocated to Seattle in 1993 where she began working at Catholic Community Services in Seattle. Kim continued to share her passion for children’s education as a program coordinator for Catholic Community Services’ Youth Tutoring Program at Holly Park, Cedarvale and Yesler Terrace housing developments. Following her husband’s doctoral education at The University of Washington, Kim relocated with her family to Gig Harbor, WA where she dedicated herself to the home education of her four children.
Despite being diagnosed with terminal illness in the midst of her family’s relocation to Phoenix, Kim actively relocated her family and household on two separate occasions, while fighting her disease. Kimberly’s extraordinary resiliency during this relocation period combined with intensive chemotherapy, radiation and multiple surgeries, serves as a genuine and authentic witness to the love of her family and joy for life.
Kim was known for her ability to find humor in just about any situation; her cheerful, easy smile was contagious. When she talked with either friends or strangers, laughter was frequently over-heard; Kim was known and loved for her zeal and zest for life. She was keenly interested in living an organic, self-sufficient lifestyle. She enjoyed raising chickens, rabbits and organic gardening. Kim was a regular patron of the local organic produce market and enjoyed attending the annual Mother Earth Conference. As a native Seattlite, Kim loved hiking and camping in the Pacific Northwest and especially enjoyed spending summer holidays camping with her family and friends in the San Juan Islands.
Kim was blessed with a quick-wit and was an outspoken advocate of the fullness of truth, deposited by Christ, within the Catholic Church. Kim was like a warm, gentle summer’s breeze and a powerful tornado somehow wrapped-up together. Her zeal, compassion for those less fortunate—especially women and their babies in crisis pregnancy—her love for her husband, her children and friends were her most beloved virtues; she will be dearly missed by all of those who knew and loved her.
Kim was a consecrated member of The Holy Family Institute and an active member of the Tacoma, WA chapter of “40 Days for Life”. Kim was a devoted mother, home educator, dearly beloved friend and staunch pro-life advocate.
