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For those of you who are unaware, I am Nick Savaglio, and I am Kaitlyn’s second cousin (or as the New Yorkers refer to us as “The Chicago Cousins”). As I sit here to write this, I am at a loss for words because Kaitlyn has impacted my life in so many ways and for me, it is hard to put into words how much she meant to me. Referring to Kaitlyn as my second cousin sounds silly to me because she was so much more than that, I looked up to Kaitlyn like the older sister I never had. We had shared so many experiences before her passing, but it was not until after that I came to realize how much of an impact on my life she would have.

As everyone knows, Kaitlyn passed away in August of 2014 and at the time I was 18 years old starting my freshman year of college. I was at that age where I did not fully understand how to process losing someone, I was so close to and looked up to. However, throughout the next few years a lot of my decision making came with Kaitlyn and mind and how she would approach certain situations.

There are so many memories that I can remember with Kaitlyn from ding-dong-ditching in the neighborhood to the late night black Friday shopping, but any time we were together we were always laughing and having fun, that’s what I remember the most. My favorite memory isn’t really a memory but a yearly tradition of spending each Thanksgiving together. Every year I would look forward to seeing Kaitlyn and Carly coming to Chicago for a full week and enjoying the company of one another. Now that the cousins are a little bit older and close to starting families on their own, we hope to continue the tradition as we know Kaitlyn would have wanted.

I could sit here and type for hours about all the different stories and how much Kaitlyn meant to me but there isn’t a day that goes by where I don’t think about her. I know that she is looking over us and we will continue to make her proud.

Keep Smiling Beautiful,

Nick

I think to pick just one memory would be impossible, but that’s what made our friendship so special; there are just too many to choose from. I wrote this August 22nd 2016, two years after K passed. “Some of my favorite memories with you are just when we would drive around, no destination in mind, nothing planned. I maybe didn’t realize them then, but understand now, that God put us together for a reason. He knew that eventually he would need you more than we did, but gave us that time together – something I’m grateful for every day. When I take drives by myself now I think of you. I think of when we would race to the beach for a sunset, just to get a good picture. I miss you, I love you, we’re another year closer to being back together xoxo Kimmy”. And how thankful I am for all the time we got to spend together. For Kait’s last few years on earth, we did nearly everything together – we worked together (too much), we shopped together, we were law and order SVU-watching bums together, we partied, we laughed, we vented and cried together. Kait was the greatest friend I’ve ever had and I consider myself eternally grateful to have had the chance to experience a friendship like hers.

Loving Memories of Kaitlyn

Darla holding Kaitlyn at Sunday Mass at Our Lady of Good Counsel Church: that is my first memory of Kaitlyn. She was about 2 ½ / 3 years old and wearing a pretty, white hat with a wide brim made of eyelet. My first thought was “what a cute, little girl” and I noticed that she was about the same age as my daughter, Christine.  Shortly after that, there was that cute, little girl and her Mom again at the Mattituck-Laurel Library for one of their wonderful programs for toddlers. The rest is history, as they say, as Kaitlyn and her family became a big part of the life of my family. Soon after, another precious little girl that we met at the library named Corinne Araneo and her family joined us. We spent a tremendous amount of time together doing all kinds of fun activities with the girls. All are very fond memories, and regardless of what the activity was, Kaitlyn was always smiling and full of spirit and boundless energy- she absolutely knew how to have fun from a very young age.

Another special memory of Kaitlyn was the morning Carly was born. Darla and Joe called me sometime in the middle of the night to come over to be with Kaitlyn so they could head to the hospital. ( Yes, of course, the plan was in place before that night-we’re talking about Darla here!) It was a very special day that we spent together, along with both my girls: breakfast, time at the park, and we probably spent some time at the library, too. And Kaitlyn was SO excited about having a baby sister. And from that day on, Kaitlyn took on the role of “big sister” in an exemplary manner.

If there were such a thing as The 5 Musketeers, it would have been Kaitlyn, Corinne, Christine, Lisa, and Carly. They were pretty inseparable doing all kinds of special things or just playing together. There were trips to the city, trick or treating, Christmas caroling, making gingerbread houses at Gingerbread University, the Christmas “Character Breakfasts” and many other special outings. And of course, we will never forget the generosity of Darla and Joe opening up their home year after year for Easter Egg Hunts and the best birthday pool parties in town! Through it all, Kaitlyn was ever present, being helpful with the younger ones, organizing games, leading the way.

Some of my most cherished memories of Kaitlyn took place when she was  a student in my  Religious Education class from Kindergarten to 9th grade. I would pick up some of the students in my green Windstar mini-van, and Kaitlyn christened the van “The Religion Bus.” It kept that name way past the time that the students finished Religious Ed, and some of the best conversations took place in “The Religion Bus.” Having Kaitlyn in class was a Godsend ( no pun intended!)  She was smart and had a keen sense of humor. She was very adept at crafts (just like her Mom), which came in handy when the students were young because she was able to lend a hand to others who weren’t as crafty.  And as the students got older and there were less crafts and more discussion, I could always count on Kaitlyn to ask insightful questions and make astute comments, keeping things lively and the others involved.

These are just a few of the loving memories of Kaitlyn that bring joy to my heart.  Her  strong presence was always felt; Bill Araneo said it perfectly at Kaitlyn’s funeral Mass when he called Kaitlyn a Force. And because of the immeasurable love and unending dedication of Darla, Joe, and Carly and Kait’s Angels, Kaitlyn’s presence continues to be a Force. Kaitlyn continues to make a difference in the lives of so many, right here in our local community. She is truly a Guardian Angel, and I feel blessed when I find a dime because I know she is paying me a sweet visit, sometimes when I need it most.

You will always be in my heart, Kaitlyn

Love, Gail Angell

Kaitlyn and I share so many amazing times together.  As a little girl, she was inquisitive, caring, and loving.  She always knew if Mom and Dad said “NO” Aunt Dore would say “YES”.  I loved that she had an infectious smile.  

If you were sad Kaitlyn made you happy.  I have so many wonderful memories of the times we shared. The Doorhys had a boat that they docked in Oakdale, and Kaitlyn use to call me and ask if she could come over, of course, I said yes and she would end up at my house to hang out and we had a blast laughing eating shooting the breeze.  Kaitlyn and I shared a passion for the NY Mets.  Every Christmas she would give me a Mets ornament.  We attended games together and ate hotdogs and cotton candy, it was always a blast.  I told her someday we will sit in one of those boxes, and our wish came true.  For my 50th birthday, we celebrated with family and friends in Suite 122 at Citi Field.  She said to me ” Aunt Dore we made it”.  I will never forget that twinkle in her eye and the fun we had.  There are so many great times, the Christmas’, the Easters, the Birthdays.  When Kaitlyn set out to do something nothing got in her way.  I love and adore Kaitlyn. She shines down on me from above and I know every time I need her she is there.

They say that children can start making explicit memories at around age two. However, most of these memories remain implicit until the age of seven. While some children report having memories as young as age two, most children do not. At 26, there is obviously more times of my life that I remember, and have explicit memories from, than there is time that I don’t. A lot of my very first memories, involve Kait and her family. KK and I grew up together all over the east coast. New York, New Jersey, South Carolina, Pennsylvania, Florida… the list goes on and on. Our travels were for us and our relationship flourished there. While we did attend school together, from the 5^th grade on, she had her schedule and I had mine. I don’t think I would’ve changed a thing because when I look back, I think we had such a strong connection because we didn’t let anything get in our way. No drama from school, or silly outside things, just family. Our families became one and nothing is more special than family. Kaitlyn taught me so many of the things that I know, in life and after death. She was always more advanced than I was, and I would’ve been lost without that as a kid and as a teen. So, to tell me that I have to talk about one memory is hard because there are millions of small moments. I could realistically write a novel about the profound impact that Kait Doorhy had on my life. My first text message was sent to her, she taught me how to use social media, my first inappropriate word, falling asleep in front of the fire at Christmas Eve dinner after she had worked at MK all day. Collecting money filled Easter eggs in our mansion air b&b in Florida. Teaching me to snowboard with MY snowboard…which then made me realize I was a born skier. Making sure that my horrible high school nickname, Karen, stuck all the way through to my adult life. Marching next to you in my NJROTC uniform, while you waved politely as strawberry queen. A lifetime of memories that definitely ended too soon. We should’ve had college degrees, weddings, and children of our own. She will still be here for all of those things, just not in the way we would have liked or expected. I will never be able to understand fully why this happened. It is not fair, every day is easier than the one before, but it will never be okay. Losing you was the hardest thing I have ever been through. Not just for me, for everyone who knew you, but mostly for your family. Watching them in pain caused the most upset.  All I know is that our story is a true testament to “friends are the family you choose.”

I could not think of anyone more deserving of the title of sister than Kaitlyn and her sister Carly. I am an only child but because of them it never really did feel that way. That brings me the most comfort in times that are harder than others. We miss you Kait but thank you for all the memories you left with us. Including, but not limited to, teaching me how to make a spoon stick to my nose.

All of my love always.

Corinne