Obituary of KIMBERLY RACHAEL KOTELO

December 14, 1994 - April 30, 2021

With overwhelming sadness our shining bright light has left us.
 

Celebrating her life is her mother Eleanor Kotelo (Tony), father Jerry Kotelo, sister Shannon Blair (Ryan), Oma Erna Garnett, and numerous aunts, uncles, cousins, and friends.
 

Kim grew up in West St Paul. She fulfilled her dream of becoming a nurse in September 2019 when she graduated from Red River College. Her nursing career was her love. Kim worked in the acute medicine unit at HSC. She told her Mom “I’ll always remember my first year of nursing”, because of COVID. Kim was diagnosed with type-1 diabetes in her teens. This disease ultimately helped her connect to patients with her diabetic tattoo and vast knowledge of this disease. Her future goal was to help educate more people about type-1 diabetes. She was compassionate, caring, understanding, and had a unique quality connecting with patients and families. She was often called upon to start IVs or draw blood, as she “got it” on the first try.
 

Her family and close friends meant so much to her, she valued their support, love and encouragement. She was so proud of her sister’s artistic talents that she had her draw up her past two tattoos, with a third one in the design process.

Many great summers were spent at the cottage at Lake of the Woods. Kim also loved coming to Falcon Lake to visit Uncle Barry and Aunty Ev for “fast golf cart”, skidoo, or convertible rides.
 

In her young short life, her passion was travel. From Belize, Ireland, Greece, and Mexico, but don’t ask her to camp as she could be quoted saying “I’m a five-star girl”.
 

Her mom, her Oma, and her Granny K were the strong women in her life and she looked up to them.
 

She loved the fact that she could play cribbage with her Dad, and that he could fix anything. She was his Kimmy-bear.
 

Little-tumble-weed would be at her godparents, Aunty Sue and Uncle Don’s in a heartbeat, baking up a storm.
 

Kim’s pride was making perogies, as Oma taught her. This gal loved her Ukrainian food. She will be missed at family gatherings as she could out-eat ALL of her cousins. Now there will be leftovers for cousins Trevor and Kurtis.
 

Think of all things we have shared and seen…
Don’t think of the things that might have been…
 

With Kim’s passing, the support we have had is beyond measure. A private family ceremony will be held, a celebration of her life will follow when we are able. Flowers gratefully declined, donations in Kim’s name may be made to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (www.jdrf.ca)

To share a memory of Kim, please visit www.cropo.com

Your journey continues, my child…
Love you forever,
Mommy-bear