Heather Shantih Kmitta

Heather Shantih Kmitta was born in Los Angeles, California, on September 30, 1971, and passed away on January 4, 2015.  She was our sweet flower of peace that grew into one of the most loved friend of so many people.  She grew up in Hermosa Beach, California, a couple blocks from the beach and loved building sand castles with her father.  At age 12 her parents moved to the Seattle area and she lived in a house in Burien.  She went to Kennedy High School, then a year at Western Washington before leaving school to figure what she wanted to do.  She loved animals from our dog Malia that she had in Hermosa to her many other furry dogs and cats.  She went back to school at Loyola University in Chicago and stopped just short of a degree in Sociology.  She returned to Seattle to work at a veterinary clinic.  She later worked for the Episcopal Diocese of Olympia for several years before she went back to her love of pets working as a veterinary technician.  She was involved in so many groups:  cat shows, her work on the vestry at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, animal rescue groups, First Nation Ministry, the people at her work, and so many more we don’t even know.  She always had a smile with a true caring for people and will be deeply missed by so many people whose lives she touched.  She is survived by her parents Tom and Melinda Kmitta and her sister Mariah and her partner Becky.  She was also Melinda’s best friend who loved going to plays and on trips with her.  She has left such a hole in our heart and left us wondering why someone so loved with so much to give would be taken so soon.  A celebration of her life will be held at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church on January 16 at 2:00 pm.  St. Paul’s is at 15 Roy St, Seattle. A reception in the parish hall will be held immediately after the service.  Limited street parking is available on the streets surrounding the church and a parking garage is approximately three blocks east. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the First Nations Ministries (www.ecww.org/first-nations- ministries), the Community Cat Coalition (animal rescue group at www.communitycatcoalitionwa.org), or the Seattle Animal Shelter (www.seattle.gov/animalshelter).