STEPHANIE KAY KIRKPATRICK was born on January 16, 1985, and passed away on March 12, 2014. She was born in Corsicana, Texas, and lived there until she was 13, when she moved to Sugar Land, Texas. She attended St. Agnes Academy in Houston and graduated from the University of Notre Dame with a Bachelor's Degrees in Liberal Studies and Psychology. She obtained a Master's Degree in Special Education from the University of Houston. At the time of her death she was a teacher at the Monarch School in Houston, Texas, a school dedicated to innovative education for children with neurological differences.
She is survived by her mother, Cynthia Newman Kirkpatrick; father, Neil Dean Kirkpatrick; brother, Dean Kirkpatrick; grandparents, Billye and Larry Newman and Lee and Maurice Kirkpatrick; and great grandmother, Celesta Koenig. She is also survived by her stepmother, Silvia Kirkpatrick; stepsister, Rebecca; aunts and uncles, Kent and Beth Newman, Steve and Peggy Kirkpatrick, and Greg and Nancy Kirkpatrick; and cousins, Brian, Kelly, Hank, Lindsay and Emily Kirkpatrick.
While Stephanie was taken from us way too soon, she accomplished a great deal in her life. Her abiding passion was music and she sang in the choir at St. Agnes as well as the "Triple Trio" an elite group of singers chosen by audition. She was chosen to perform a vocal solo in productions of The Messiah both at St. Agnes and Notre Dame. At the University of Notre Dame she was in the Pasquerilla East Music Company and the Chorale all while obtaining two bachelor's degrees. Once back in the Houston area, she showed her love for musical theatre and performing by supporting several regional theatre companies appearing in Annie, Tarzan, Legally Blonde, Rocky Horror Picture Show, The Music Man, Nunsense, and Little Women to name a few.
Stephanie was also passionate about special education issues and had just been named a finalist for the 2014 Walter Kase Teacher Excellence Award, a regional award to recognize educators who develop exemplary programs to heighten awareness of and respect for diversity.
Stephanie's family would like to thank all their family and friends for the outpouring of love and concern during this difficult time. Your support has been overwhelming. Stephanie's brother Dean said it best when he said "Life is precious and wonderful because of people like Stephanie, even if at times it can be brutal. We owe it to each other to love all the time, regardless of the circumstances".
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to either:
The Monarch School
2815 Rosefield Dr.
Houston, TX 77080
or
St. Agnes Academy
9000 Bellaire Blvd.
Houston, TX 77036
or to the charity of your choice. Funds will be set up at both entities to support issues that Stephanie was involved in.
COMPARTA UN OBITUARIO
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