Kimberly Edith Kudym
Posted By Direct Cremation of the Seacoast On November 21, 2020 @ 4:11 pm In | 19 Comments
Kimberly Edith Kudym
November 20, 1958 – November 20, 2020
Newburyport, MA – At age 62, I’ve now moved on, hopefully to The Good Place. Or, maybe whatever energy left my body became absorbed into a new visitor at our suet feeders so I can keep tabs on my husband Joe Teixeira and our three dogs. I spent the last four and a half years in and out of treatment for stage four Ovarian Cancer during a most interesting and crazy period in history. I do believe that most people are amazing, benevolent beings and must continue to seek each other out and work together to get through this dark time. It is the only way to turn things around for a more peaceful, safe and equitable existence.
I will miss all of you, especially my husband. He has been my rock throughout this and up until COVID-19, was right next to me for 95% of all my treatments, procedures, hospital stays and doctor appointments. During our 27 years together, we had some great adventures, hiking and snorkeling trips to other countries, summer vacations on Maine islands, especially Bailey Island. We were fortunate to be able to travel and see so much of our world, but for me, the best times were just being home together, especially after he retired in May 2019, having our morning coffee while reading the news and our daily walks with the dogs.
I will also miss the many wonderful friends I’ve met through various city commissions when I moved to Newburyport from Rowley in 1988. One of my proudest and joyous moments was in 2011 while serving on the Off-Leash Committee, finally convincing City Council to pass the Off-leash Ordinance for three parks in Newburyport. I will miss the many friends and colleagues at the Lawrence Public Schools and Triton Middle School, my canine clients and their human companions from the Camp Kudym years, my friends from the Amesbury Duplicate Bridge Club and the most recent friends I met while volunteering at Anna Jacques Hospital and Avita Assisted Living with our therapy dogs, Carlos and Kaitlyn who quickly figured out which staff members kept the best tasting treats. We thoroughly enjoyed those visits until the pandemic forced the program’s shut down. Our third dog, Frida, wasn’t quite suitable for the job but at home she was my shadow and fierce protector. As long as Dad remembers to freshen your water three times daily, go easy on him, girl!
I was predeceased by two great human beings, my parents, Marie Kudym and Don Kudym, Sr. To my brothers, Don and Ken my heart breaks to leave you both. What fantastic memories we made as kids, and later as slightly more mature adults at our family get-togethers! And to my dearest girlfriends, including my cousin Veronica, thank you for all the love and laughs throughout the years, particularly when I needed it most. There is nothing more valuable in life than good friends and I cherished each and every one of you.
I also sadly leave behind my nieces and nephews, Holly, Ryan, Samira, Rui, Jill, Joey, Matthew, Noah and Dylan, my brother-in-law Jeff Teixeira and his wife, Mary Jo Connelly of Somerville, MA, two sisters-in law, Kim Kudym (who could resist taking that great Ukrainian surname?) Mary Mullaney and her husband Barry of Needham, MA, and many cousins. Also, my loving aunts, stepmother and step mother-in-law who have shared their insight and wisdom, influencing me in many ways: Christine Kudym of Southbridge, Mass, Heidrun Teixeira of Longmeadow, MA, Edith Femia of Rye, NH and Aunt Betty Vela of Fort Morgan, CO.
I hope you all live long and well. Try to help others, support land conservation and the arts, shop local and plant more trees until your time comes to leave, too. Don’t forget to put out some tacos de carnitas with a decent pico de gallo sauce and a couple of dark chocolate Dove Bars on the Day of the Dead altar for me. Adios!
In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Essex County Greenbelt.
Condolences for the family of “Kimberly Edith Kudym”
Kim, I pledge to put out some tacos de carnitas and some dark chocolate Dove Bars on the Day of the Dead in your name. Susan and I will set up a nice altar for you! I am so glad were able to live your life to its fullest, rich with family and friends. Whether you are in the Good Place, or keeping tabs on Joe and the dogs through the window as a feathered friend, your spirit will always be present. Rest in peace Kim.
Kim, My dear friend, I think of our last visit sitting outside watching and listening to the beautiful variety of birds at your feeders. I can picture your spirit in their song. I have been blessed to know you all these years. Rest in Peace.
Joe, My heart goes out to you. You have been there for Kim through all the ups and downs these past four years and before. I hope you can take heart in the fact that she is now at peace–the suffering over. Bless You.
I am most grateful to have met you, Kim Kudym, in 5th grade, where we quickly became best friends for life. I will miss you tremendously. Reminders are everywhere, from the kitchen towel hanging from my stove right now to the cute candy wrapper earrings from Figi to the many photos taken through the years. But those are physical reminders. I’m not quite sure how to describe the feelings of the heart except that they are strong. Rest in peace, my dear friend.
Sincere condolences to Kim’s husband (and rock), Joe, and to her brothers, Don and Ken, and their families, and all extended family and friends.
To my dear Kim, whom I met when we were both teaching 2nd grade at the Tarbox School in Lawrence. We were temporarily housed there, awaiting the delayed opening of the new and improved Big Bad Arlington School. Kim always loved to point out that the vast differences in our classroom management styles could be readily seen as we walked our students to and from the schoolyard, the lavatories, any transition, really. Ms Kudym’s kids were in an orderly, discernible line, while mine were bouncing off the walls, turning somersaults and in various other ways displaying their utter disregard for my “authority”. Kim’s sense of humor and love for dogs won me over immediately. We shared decades of exchanging hideous gifts, snarky commentaries on the world, and more laughs and shenanigans than I can begin to count. Kim truly “got” me, in a way that few others have. It feels so good to be with someone who completely understands and accepts your obnoxious traits. She had so many friends, whose companionship she cultivated so carefully, that I expect I’m not the only one who enjoyed Kim’s love for the weirder and more unorthodox details of life in these United States. Kim’s devotion to maintaining family ties was always evident. She kept up with the most important things, always, personal relationships and connections. Joe is and always has been a devoted partner to Kim, through some very challenging times. He could not have been more supportive of her through the brutal years of struggling with ovarian cancer, in all its monstrous cruelty. My love and condolences to Joe, Ken, Don, Kim Kudym II, Noah, Dylan, Holly, Ryan, Veronica, Chris, and all the other family and friends that will miss our beloved Kim. Rest in Peace, my dear friend.
Joe,
I was one of Kim’s many friends at the Amesbury Duplicate Bridge Club.m She always had a smile for everyone. She will be missed.
Dear Joe – I am a bridge friend of Kim’s (Amesbury Bridge Group). I just want you and your family to know that I thought Kim approached her disease and treatment with courage and bravery. She continued to be her friendly and kind self throughout it all. And, I know, that she was thankful to always have you by her side. May she rest in peace.
Dear Joe,
I was a teacher with Kim at the Arlington School. Although I have not had contact with Kim for a long time, she was in my prayers these past several years because I had heard of her fight from other teachers. She will be missed by many. May she be pain free and Rest In Peace.
With deepest sympathy,
Christine Blanchette
Joe, I am very sorry for your loss. I met Kim once or twice at the WEAC picnic. It is a terrible loss, but I know you will always have cherished memories of your time together
Don and Kenny, I am so sad that you have lost your sister. She was a wonderful person. I didn’t even know she was sick.
Please accept my heartfelt sympathy Joe for the loss of your beautiful wife. Kim certainly left a huge impact on all living things with her generosity of spirit and commitment ,but it is her strength and courage fighting her disease right up to her final words and in these unprecedented times that are such an inspiration. I will always be grateful for the love and care you both gave Truman in Camp Kudym. May your happy memories together as well as the end to her pain help you move forward into the next chapter.
She will never be forgotten,
RIP,
Claudette and Truman
Please accept my sincere condolences. I worked with Kim for many years in Lawrence. I always enjoyed talking with her, I was able to see her a couple of times at our retiree luncheons. The obituary she wrote is just beautiful.
Joe, I am so very sorry for you loss. My thoughts and prayers are with you. Sounds like you have many happy memories to cherish.
Rest In Peace, Kim. I’m glad your suffering is over, but I will miss you so very much. The humor, the irreverence, the dog devotion, and the wonderful, wonderful friendship you showed my mother. I’ll always be grateful for the karaoke party on my mother’s 70th, for our all-Warren-supporter Thanksgiving last year, and for that walk at Moseley on Labor Day. I’ll always remember your trick or treat night shenanigans. And the Day of the Dead will, for me, always, always belong to you.
Joe, thank you for taking such good care of Kim. She was so lucky to have you. Eddie and I are thinking of you. I hope that we can all be together again soon. Our love and condolences, too, to Ken and Don and their families.
Kim’s Family, I taught a Kim Kudym back in the 60’s while teaching at the Pine Grove School in Rowley. I’m wondering if she is that Kim. I have very fond memories of her. She was a “teacher’s delight!” My sympathy to you during this sad time.
Joe, I just found out about your loss. This morning I sent her a Thanksgiving message .
I know it´s very hard what you´re going through , think she doesn´t suffer anymore. She was a great person, with a great sense of humour and always willing to help. She was a great support for me the year I spent in the USA and at the Arlington School. I´m very sorry for your loss.
Kim, I´m so glad our lives paths crossed. I´ll always carry your sweet and sincere friendship in my heart. Thank you for your support. Rest in peace.
Hi Janet,
That was, in fact, this Kim Kudym. She always spoke fondly of the Pine Grove. You were probably one of those who inspired her to become a teacher. Even after she retired, she never stopped being an educator.
Thank you!
Kim’s warmth, caring and humor shine through her beautifully written farewell. She will be sorely missed. My condolences to you and your canine family, Joe.
I knew Kim through Triton Middle School. She made us smile . My condolences to your family.
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To Joe, Kim’s family, and all of her many friends: Our hearts go out to all of you. We had the good fortune to meet Kim and Joe soon after we moved to Newburyport 11 years ago. It has been a joy getting to know Kim and while I am relieved that she’s no longer suffering, I am going to miss her fiercely. Love to all of you. Jan and Paul Swindlehurst