Kimberly
Anne McConnell
Nov.
26, 1964 - Feb. 4, 2003
It
is with much sadness in our hearts that we announce that our beloved
sister and friend Kim McConnell of
Sudbury, passed away suddenly on February 4, 2003.
Kim was a past member of the DAWN Ontario board, serving on the executive
as Treasurer until 1999. Kim was an activist in the disAbility movement
for many years facilitating a strong voice for Women with DisAbilities.
She served as a Board member for the Northeastern Ontario Regional
Alliance for the DisAbled (formerly P.U.S.H. Northeast - Persons United
for Self-Help) and DAWN Sudbury. As well, Kim was a member of the
Advisory Committee for "Voicing our Experiences," a project conducted
by DAWN Sudbury.
Kim's professional career included employment with the Glenn Crombie
Centre, a Centre dedicated to serving the needs of students with disabilities
at Cambrian College in Sudbury. Kim also worked as clerical support
for four years in the area of program delivery for students with special
needs at Cambrian College, after graduating from Cambrian's Medical
Secretarial Program. From 1990 to 1995, Kim worked in the Minister's
Office of the Ministry of Northern Development and Mines where she
gained exposure to the Ministry's mandate, political issues and the
policies and procedures of the Government of Ontario.
Kim shared her many skills with DAWN; We will remember her most for
her incredible integrity, her leadership, her joy of life, her kindness,
compassion, her immense enthusiasm, her incredible sense of humour
and her wonderful style!
Kim will be sadly missed but never forgotten.
In honour and in memory of Kim McConnell,
DAWN Ontario has named our Annual
Inclusion Award (started in 2001) as the
Kim McConnell
Leadership Inclusion Award
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A
message from Kim's family ...
February
8, 2003
Dear
family and friends,
For
those of you who could not attend Kim's Memorial Service, we would
like to share this with you.
The
visitations and funeral were attended by approximately 275 people.
Guests included the Mayor of Sudbury, Jim Gordon; Rick Bartolucci,
Member of Provincial Parliament (Sudbury) who was Kim's elementary
school teacher; staff representing Shelley Martel, Member of Provincial
Parliament (Nickel Belt) (for whom Kim was a clerical support staff
member for 5 years); 100% turn-out from the nine Handi-Transit bus
drivers, several of Kim's peers who also grew up and live with a disability,
four limousines of Kim's friends from Casa Bella (where she lived
for 14 years), Kim's friends from school and work, many of our parents'
friends and their families, and previous coworkers…and of course
our family, including our grandparents who are 85 years old.
We
have attached for you the Prayer Card, which
includes a photo of Kim, her obituary,
and the verse "Green". Our Aunt
Laurette gave her this poem, framed beautifully, when Kim was struggling
with her identity, as an adolescent. Kim always had this poem prominently
displayed in her home. Also attached is the Eulogy,
written and delivered by Jodie, and the Program for Kim's Memorial
Service.
Our
family was thinking of all those who could not be at Kim's service
with love and affection. We thank you for all what you shared with
Kim, during her lifetime, and for your thoughts and prayers.
Sincerely,
Bob, Jean & Jodie
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Site
Contents
Kim's
Obituary
Eulogy:
A Reflection on the Love and Life of Kim
Delivered by Jodie Lynn McConnell
