Kathleen Thorson had never learned how to make pie crust, because she didn’t need to. Her life was about taking care of her family—birthdays, holidays, and every ordinary day with quiet dedication. Only after her sudden passing would her husband, Jesse, realize just how much of their world had depended on her steady presence.

On December 29, 2019, Kathleen and Jesse welcomed their fourth child, a healthy baby boy named Teddy. The family of six was settling into life with a newborn when, just five days later, Kathleen was rushed to the hospital with severe symptoms. Doctors diagnosed her with an intracerebral hemorrhage, and despite emergency surgery, she passed away just days later at the age of 34.

Before her death, Kathleen had made a deeply personal decision to become an organ donor. In the days following her passing, her family honored that choice, donating twelve of her organs to those in need. Jesse found comfort in knowing that part of Kathleen lived on in others, and their oldest son, Danny, proudly shared with his classmates that his mom had “helped people.”

Kathleen and Jesse’s relationship began in high school, blossoming into a lifetime of shared memories. She poured herself into being a mother and wife, creating a home filled with love, care, and warmth. Her absence left a deep void, but Jesse is doing his best to carry on her legacy of love, kindness, and intentional living. Their community rallied around them, raising over $130,000 to support the family in their time of loss.