HEIDELBACH,
Kaitlin Brooke
January 28, 1997 – August 29, 2013
A bright and shining life cut short much too soon. Kaitlin was born in Prince George, BC and moved to Ladysmith with her family where she is the fifth generation to live in Ladysmith.
She leaves behind her brokenhearted mother and father, Tanya and Neil Heidelbach, sister Dezaray Heidelbach and brother Colton Graham; grandparents Debbie Okimaw (predeceased grandfather Cliff Okimaw 2009) and Perry and Shirley Heidelbach; aunts, uncles, cousins and many close and special friends and Dezaray’s special friend Chantal Lofstrom and family.
Kaitlin excelled at everything whether it was games, sports or school - she wanted to be the best at everything she did. She attended Queen Margaret’s School where she was starting the new school year in grade eleven as House Captain and Sports Captain. Highly motivated, energetic, driven, a natural leader and independent she was destined to succeed – she had big hopes and dreams and always said she was going to be rich, own her own castle on an island and live there!
Ever since Kaitlin was five years old, she said she wanted to be a doctor and never once wavered from this goal. Her plans were that after she completed medical school she wanted to spend the first two years of her career working with Doctors Without Borders. Kaitlin loved to volunteer and did so at Cowichan General Hospital and St. John Ambulance in Duncan. She also went on a service trip when she was 14 to Nicaragua and was looking forward to another service trip to Africa this coming school year.
Kaitlin had a job from the time she was twelve working in the horse stables until she recently started a new job at Walmart in Duncan. Besides hardworking, Kaitlin was fun-loving – she loved animals and loved riding her horse Rocky, she loved hiking and camping, reading, and anything to do with school or education.
“You are the love of our lives, greatly loved and will be forever missed”
The family would like to thank the Ladysmith RCMP and the various Search and Rescue agencies who worked tirelessly all night and never gave up. Special thanks to Carla with Ladysmith Victim Services who was a rock in a great time of grief. Thank you to QMS for being the school Kaitlin loved and provided her with opportunities to thrive and succeed, and for hosting the Celebration of Life and tea. Thank you to our very close friends & family who stood by our side through everything.
A Celebration of Life will be held at Queen Margaret’s School in Duncan on Friday, September 6, 2013 at 1:00 p.m. with a tea to follow. Please come out to share your stories about Kaitlin.
In lieu of flowers, please donate in Kaitlin’s name to Queen Margaret’s School, 660 Brownsey Ave., Duncan, BC V9L 1C2 where a scholarship will be set up for students wishing to pursue an education in medical studies.