Kay Ruth Tomczak, 88, passed away peacefully at the McClure Miller Respite House on October 2, 2025. She was a breast cancer warrior and stubbornly fought a long battle with metastatic breast cancer and lymphoma for 15 years. She will be dearly missed by all who knew and loved her.
Born in 1937, in Wyandotte, Mich., she was the third of six children born to Howard and Ethel McMillan. Kay graduated from the University of Detroit Mercy Dental School as a dental hygienist in 1957.
Kay married James Joseph Tomczak on August 2, 1958, in Lincoln Park, Mich. They moved to Burlington, Vt., in 1965 where they raised their nine children. In their retirement years, they moved to Colchester, and later to the Residence at Shelburne Bay, where Kay reconnected with old friends and made many new ones.
Kay was a loving wife and mother. Her marriage of 66 years and her deep faith in a loving, forgiving God gave her strength and joy, which she shared with everyone she met. Kay’s participation in the Catholic Cursillo Movement strengthened her faith. In 1977 she helped form the Vermont chapter of Aglow International, a nondenominational Christian women’s group, and traveled around the U.S. as a board member for many years. She was active in both Catholic and Christian prayer communities and bible studies.
Love, faith and family were the foundation and strength of Kay’s life, and she sought to help many individuals in need of comfort and shelter. Kay loved to create beauty and harmony — in relationships, in flowers and gardens, and by creating quilts for her ever-growing family. She was active in the Champlain Echoes Chorus and the local quilting community, and she enjoyed playing games with family and friends. She was a steadfast supporter of all her family members, attending sporting events and activities and delighting in celebrating birthdays. To spend time with Kay was to feel unconditionally loved and accepted.
Kay was predeceased by her sisters, Jeanne Cox and Carroll Woyjcik; her husband, James; and two grandsons, James Currie and Roger Schafer III. Kay is survived by her brothers: Ken (Marnie), Jim (Marianne) and Terry (Sandy) McMillan; and her children: Elizabeth (Roger) Schafer, Mary Susan (John) Currie, David (Patty), Andrew, Jennifer (Scott DuBois), Christine (Stephen) Horton, Kathleen (A.D.) Kent, Stephen and Natalie (Joel) Bradford; 21 grandchildren, four step-grandchildren, 16 great-grandchildren and two step-great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.
The family would like to extend our deepest gratitude for the care given to our mother in her final months: Dr. Anne Breña and staff members of the Residence at Shelburne Bay, Bayada Hospice and the McClure Miller Respite House.
Visiting hours are on Sunday, October 12, 2025, 3 to 5 p.m., at LaVigne Funeral Home, 132 Main St., Winooski. Funeral services will be held on Monday, October 13, 2025, 10 a.m., at Daybreak Community Church in Colchester, with a reception to follow. Burial will be at 2 p.m. at Resurrection Park Cemetery in South Burlington. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Aspire Now or Samaritan’s Purse.
This article appears in Oct 8-14 2025.