Kate Ellen Nicholson

Kate Ellen Nicholson, my beautiful daughter, passed away unexpectedly April 9, 2018 at Texas Falls in Hancock, Vermont. She was only 35 years old, born on September 30, 1982 in Aspen, Colorado to Marsha and Mark Nicholson. Mark preceded Kate in death 5 years ago and, sadly, Kate is also joining her brother Zachary who died in 2015.

The family moved to Waitsfield, Vermont when Kate was 6 years old. She attended Waitsfield Elementary and graduated from Harwood Union High School in 2000. During her school years, and beyond, she loved playing soccer, but skiing was her passion. Kate just plain loved being outdoors; walking, biking, snowshoeing, jogging, skiing, and contemplating.

Kate received several grants from George Washington University, where she did well until mental illness began invading her mind and took over her aspirations. Always a fighter she didn’t want this illness to get the best of her, but it did, and she struggled with that knowledge everyday. Kate wasn’t always easy to deal with, but neither is living with psychotic, paranoid schizophrenia. She knew her illness and knowing that she could not lead a “normal life” was very painful for her.

Kate is survived by her mother Marsha VanLeeuwen and her husband Don of Plattsburgh, New York. And her aunts and uncles; Robert and Deb Barris of Boothbay Harbor, Maine, Barbara and Sid Smidt of Fayston, Vermont, and Judith and Paul Cote of Weare, New Hampshire. Also her cousins Matt Cote and Siemen Smidt.

Special thanks and gratitude to those people (and they know who they are) in the Mad River Valley and the Rochester and Middlebury areas who gave housing and friendship and a helping hand to Kate. And many, many thanks to the various law enforcement officers in her many times of need. And many, many gratitudes to the patient people at Washington County Mental Health and Vermont State Psychiatric Hospital who worked so hard to help Kate. You all meant a lot to her.

This Buddhist chant goes to Kate and all the other people who are suffering:
May I be happy.
May I be free from suffering.
May I be free from harm.
May I have ease of heart.
Mai I be calm and at ease.
May I be peaceful.
May your mind be finally at peace my beautiful daughter.

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This article appears in Apr 18-24, 2018.

10 replies on “Obituary: Kate Nicholson, 1982-2018”

  1. I live in Rochester and had many conversations with Kate over the last few years. I pray that she has found peace. My condolences to her family and friends. Kelly Kelly, Rochester, VT

  3. Such a beautiful tribute of love for your daughter. I am sorry for your losses. May she live on through you.

  4. Thank you Marsha, for the tribute to Kate and the Buddhist chant. Kate was so very brave in facing and fighting her disease, often alone. Despite all her problems, she often had a sunny smile and a positive, optimistic spirit. She was a very hard worker. She liked to garden, recycle and heat with wood and she cared passionately about global warming, pollution and corruption in government.

    I was deeply saddened to hear of her passing.

    I hope and pray she is in a better place.
    “Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth” Matthew 5.5
    Bill Gibson, Rochester

  5. Marsha, I am so sorry for your loss. Kate was so unique and independent, she left an impression. Your tribute to Kate was so beautiful and honest.
    Patt

  6. We are so saddened by the news of Kate’s passing. Kate was our babysitter years ago, and we all will miss her. We send you our deepest sympathy. Much love, Kari Dolan and Chach Curtis, Waitsfield, VT

  7. I am so sorry to hear of this. I knew and loved Zachary in his teenage years when he hung out with “Crusty”. She joins her brother now and may peace be with her and Zach.

  8. I am so so very sorry to hear this news Marsha. What an unbearably difficult time for your family. Sending love and condolences and hope you can find some peace

  9. Marsha, I have been thinking of you and of Kate and of Zach and I just wanted to say thank you. I have so many happy memories with them both. With love, Grey

  10. I am so very sorry for your loss. My brother is the one who discovered her in the water and contacted the police. May she find the peace that she was seeking and may you find peace knowing she may finally rest. My thoughts and prayers are with you. Kathy Richardson – Maine

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