Kiara was born April 4, 1968, to Patrick and Judith Donohue
in Las Vegas, Nevada. She graduated from
Western High School in 1986 and earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Music
(1992) and a Master’s Degree in Elementary Education (1997) from the University
of Nevada, Reno. A devoted alumna of the
university, Kiara served two terms on the Nevada Alumni Council, was the
long-term president and coordinator of the Alumni Band, and was a recipient of
the 2008 Nevada Alumni Association Service Award. After receiving word of her passing, the
Nevada Alumni Association dedicated the 2014 Homecoming Week to Kiara’s memory.
Kiara and Kelly Wolf celebrated their fourteenth wedding
anniversary on September 17 of this year, although their friendship stretched
back to 1981 (one summer, at band camp).
Together with daughters Karina and Karissa, they left Nevada for Eugene,
OR, in 2006. All four agreed that they
could not have made a better decision.
After a 10+ year career as a classroom teacher in the Washoe
County and Clark County (NV) School Districts, Kiara chose to be a stay-at-home
mom after the move to Oregon. She did
not, however, lose her passion for the classroom and was a tireless advocate
for children and their education. She was a leader with the Stand for Children
organization, and a PTO board member, parent volunteer, and substitute teacher
at Spring Creek Elementary School.
A member of Temple Beth Israel in Eugene, Kiara volunteered
countless hours working in the Judaica/Gift Shop. She felt truly at home in the congregation
and believed that she had finally found a religious community where she was
welcome and accepted.
The family wishes to extend its profound thanks to the
medical professionals at Oregon Medical Group, Willamette Valley Cancer
Institute, and Oregon Health and Science University for providing exceptional
care; to Kiara’s “Pit Crew” of Mia (Massage), Karen (Physical Therapy), Zachary
(Acupuncture), and Heather (Herbalist) for easing her symptoms and reducing her
pain; and to the Samaritan Evergreen Hospice House in Albany, OR, for
shepherding Kiara through her final hours with compassion, empathy, and love.
Kiara is survived by her husband and daughters; her parents,
sister Tara Donohue, nephew Michael, and niece Molly of Las Vegas; mother-in-law
Natalie Wolf of Las Vegas; brother- and sister- in law Mitch and Carmen Wolf
and nephews Dylan and Gavin of Shawnee, OK; and brother- and sister- in law Jamie
and Marlene Wolf of Las Vegas. Kiara
believed “family” was defined not by genetics or legal relationships, but by
the unconditional love between individuals.
As such, Kiara is also survived by hundreds of people associated with
the various groups to which Kiara was a part: University of Nevada Music
Department and Alumni Marching Band, Sigma Alpha Iota, Temple Beth Israel,
Stand for Children, Spring Creek PTO, and those who followed her blog:
kwheartsurgery.blogspot.com.
A memorial service will be held Sunday, October 12, 2014, at
12:00 noon at Temple Beth Israel, 1175 E. 29th Ave, Eugene, OR. In lieu of flowers, please consider a
donation to the OHSU Knight Cancer Challenge (onedown.org) or the Samaritan
Evergreen Hospice House (www.samhealth.org).
2 comments:
Thank you Kelly for this posting. I read it in the Reno gazette as well. I sorely miss Kiaras blog. I am so sorry for your loss and regardless of the many talks you had with your beloved wife in preparation of her transition, the actual event is always surreal. Your family's trials have influenced my life in a positive way, I look for the joy and wonder in each day as Kiara advised. I hope you can too.
I miss you everyday my dear friend. Squidlo forever.
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