"My Dear Cuz,You were always so real in the nonsense that can sometimes happen with family. I always could tell you how I was and how it is and you got it. You had a great perspective that matched with mine and your wit cracked me up. I admired you so much and watched you fight like a true champion making me proud that your blood runs in me too. I promise to keep your spirit alive with my children. If they can have some of your your big heart and courage, Ill be doing something right. I remember you before you could walk, and I am sad to see you leave...for now. The only comfort I take is knowing you are finally relieved of all the pain. I will miss you!"
In loving memory of
Kimberly Ann Squier
April 30, 1980 - July 3, 2011
Kimberly Ann Squier was born April 30, 1980 in Lakewood, California to Daniel and Pamela (Newberry) Squier. She passed away Sunday, July 3, 2011 in Sacramento, California at the age of 31.Kim grew up in La Mirada and Big Bear, California, graduating from Sonora High School (La Habra) in 1998. She went on went to Fullerton college for one semester. Unsure of what she wanted to do, she decided to wait a while before continuing more schooling. She moved to Spokane, Washington in 2001, where she lived for 1 year. After having visited Seattle that year, she decided she liked it much better, so she moved back to California to save up. Finally Kim was able to move to Seattle in 2002, and never left. Kim was always a foodie, enjoying cooking & eating all kinds of food. Her job at Grand Central Bakery led to 'fame' as the best soup chef in the area. She was even interviewed on a local talk-radio show and wrote articles for the company newsletter. Besides cooking, she loved to ride her bike everywhere in Seattle, including up & down all the steep hills of downtown. Cooking, biking, swimming, painting, playing music & singing, having fun and laughing with her friends were her favorite pastimes. She loved nothing better than to have a 'curry party' and invite everyone she knew to her small condo in West Seattle. Kim was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2007. She suffered through surgeries, chemo & radiation, and came out the other side feeling like she'd 'kicked cancer's butt'. She enjoyed the next couple of years with friends, family and some relationships. She finally decided to go back to college in the culinary program so she could open up her own breakfast/lunch restaurant in the future. In September 2010 she found out that the cancer had returned, and this time in her lung. She once again began the battle. Kim was a tremendously strong and courageous woman, very rarely complaining about what life had dealt her. She just took it one day at a time, continuing to work and spend time with friends & family. She was moving back to California to be with her parents, and to get more in-depth care when her battle ended. Kim touched so many lives, and was loved by so many people. Her laugh, her sweet heart, will be remembered always.A memorial service will be held at 4:00 pm on Saturday, July 9, 2011 at White Emerson Mortuary, 13304 E. Philadelphia St., Whittier, California 90601.
Tributes
"Although I never had the privilege of meeting Kim, I am blessed to have known her through e-mails. I received e-mails from her, forwarded to me from Marilyn, since last year. I was so impressed with her strength and how positive she remained. I e-mailed her directly to tell her she was in my heart and I would add my prayers to the many she was receiving. We exchanged e-mails until her condition worsened. When I told her I was in her grandmother Helens wedding, she asked many questions about her, since she never knew her. Kim, you are now in our Lords loving care! I will finally meet you there.Helen"
"Your beautiful smile and radiant personality will be dearly missed. Peace and love is yours eternally.."
"KimI never met you but i went to school with your mom as a teenGod give this family strenght and bless them at this time. Pam we are sorry for your lossShes not suffering anymore and you will be together again one day. You are in our thoughts & prayers alwaysJoe & Marlene Geer"
"Rest in peace Angel. Will always love and remember you."
"Dear Kim, I only got to meet you briefly at Heathers wedding, but had been corresponding with you long distance since last September when your cancer came back. But oh, what a privilege to have known you even for just that short time! You had such a zest for life and it was a joy to read your whimsical and quirky messages about your forays into raw organic foods, chia, kelp, etc, your Confessions of an Addict (food!), and even your journaling of the cancer treatments and what you were going through, which you somehow even managed to sprinkle with humor! Then there would be lapses when you were having an especially rough time of it, but youd somehow push through it and come back again with that amazing fortitude, courage, and optimism of yours. Youve touched so many lives in your short 31 years, and we lost you much too soon, but it warms my heart knowing that well meet again and spend eternity together.Youre a new star in the heavens, Kim!"
"We only met a few times when you were a littlle girl, but I will always remember your smile and sweet personality. Peace be with you Kim and my love to your Mom, Dad & Josh."
"Kim was a gentle and kind person who touched many lives. I only knew her for a short time, when she worked as a barista at the Ruby Cafe across the street from where I live. When I came in for coffee and found her there, I knew my day would be better. No one lived life with more integrity and grace. She lives on through the goodness she inspired in many."
"Kim could light up a room with her smile. She blessed my life with friendship and I will truly miss her."
"Dearest Kim,What an honor it was to be your auntie. You have such a beautiful soul & spirit. I think about you and Josh as my first kids, as you would come and spend summers with Uncle Bob and I. We would have so much fun swimming and going to amusement parks. Your strong sense of self blossomed as you grew. You seemed to know exactly who you were. I am forever grateful that I got to spend your last week on earth with you. We had our talks, and just sat quietly enjoying being together. Rest now, sweet girl. We will all be together again someday."
"kim was such a gracious, vivacious, and extraordinarily warm and wonderful person. when i met her, i was in a dark and hard place in my life....somehow, within an hour of meeting her, i was laughing, smiling, and enjoying life in ways i hadnt in a while. she literally lifted my spirit indefinitely. i can genuinely say i love her, despite only knowing her a short time. her presence in my life was a true and timely gift that still continues on. kim. i hope you somehow know how much you will truly be missed and what a wonderful person you were to so many folks...peace and love my dear kim."
"Kim you inspired so many people with your love and your courage including me. I remember the day that you were born when we got the exciting phone call that Its a girl named Kimberly Ann Squier ! Your grandma and grandpa were with us when we got the news that Josh had a sister. You were such a cute little girl who grew to be an incredible joy to all. Ill miss you, I love you and I know that I will see you again someday."
"Dear Kimmy,Even though I saw you at Heathers wedding, I still only picture you as the adorable little flower girl in my wedding, and the funny little girl I would baby sit, who would tell me to give you and Josh candy and ice cream, but then tell me not to to tell your Mom and Dad. You grew up to be a strong, beautiful, courageous woman who was an inspiration to us all. Sleep with the Angels!"
"Kim, the biggest honor I could ever have recieved in life was being a part of your life, and watching you grow up every step of the way and seeing what an intelligent, beautiful and amazingly caring person you turned out to be. You touched and changed so many lives in such a positive way, I feel like you were put here on this Earth to make this difference. We were best friends for our whole lives and experienced almost everything together, and for this I am eternally thankful for sharing such amazing experiences with you. You have taught me how to keep a positive attitude even in the darkest of times. Kim, you will always be in my heart and I have a lifetime of memories to remember you by. Godspeed in your next adventure!Your loving brother, Josh-"
"Kim, we have so many fond memories of when you were young. The time we spent with you, your mom, dad and Josh (pizza & movie night, trick or treating, pool parties and so much more) makes us smile. When we think of you saying wadydoe (butterfly) and you calling Jeff ba da warm our hearts. The stories your mom and dad shared with us about your battle inspired us to be better, stronger people.You will be in our hearts always.Until we meet again in our Fathers house."
"you have taught me quite a bit kimmykins!!!! you are the reason i have got back into drawing:) you will forever be in my heart "
"I met Kim when she first came to work at the Grand Central Bakery. She would greet me with a smile and a big hug. My son was going through chemo at the same time Kim was being treated. She always asked me about him, but never said anything about herself until I forced it out of her. The world is a better place for Kim having been here and we are all better people for having known her. She will live forever in our hearts."
"Kim, I am so proud to be your father. You taught me more about this life than I ever thought possible. You were an inspiration to me and everyone you touched. I will always love you."
"Kim, I will love you for eternity. Well be together again.Mom"