December 11, 1990 to November 18, 2019
Kari Lynn Foss moved through this world as an irrepressible force of love. She welcomed every person and experience with an openness and care that is uncommonly rare, giving fully of herself at every opportunity. She was selfless and generous, a person who would give more than every last dime that she had to help someone who needed it, never hesitating to volunteer her time or resources to her friends and family.
Kari tragically passed from an acute pulmonary embolism on Monday, November 18, at the age of 28 – just a few weeks before her 29th birthday. The love and warmth that Kari radiated will forever be her lasting legacy. Those traits allowed her to touch countless people throughout the many parts of her life, from school and work, to her family and friends, her church community, and her work and ministry with kids.
Kari was truly gifted when it came to children: they were drawn to her like bees to a flower. That symbiotic relationship left Kari more full of life and those children carried the seeds of her love with them into the world. Kids found in Kari a source of joy and delight that so often is diminished as we move into adulthood, but for her it seemed to grow with each passing day.For Kari each kid that she met became a niece or nephew, regardless of their actual relation to her, and she found no greater joy than in spoiling those kids and making them feel special and seen.
Kari’s love and joy extended beyond just the people that she touched, though. She lived for new experiences, and was always open to trying new things. She met each new experience with an open heart and open mind, ready to find something to love about everything and anything. The things that brought her joy were never treated as a guilty pleasure or something to be kept secret – she eagerly dove in head-first into each and every one of her passions. She moved through the world with nothing but love in her heart. She loved every person she ever met, and it is impossible not to love her in return; she loved her family and her friends, she loved Marvel movies, Harry Potter, Star Wars, any and every Seattle sports team, Hallmark movies, hot chocolate, animals, cooking, and so many other things.
While her loss is a kind of pain and struggle that refuses to be captured by words, we find peace knowing that the world will forever be made better for having had her in it, and we will spend the rest of our lives trying to live up to the example that she set.
If you are reading this, know that you are loved, and tell the people in your life that you love them too. We never know just how much time we’re going to get.
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