Kathy Litke Character Analysis

Abraham Lincoln once said, “In the end, it’s not the years in your life that count, it’s the life in your years.” My mother-in-law, Kathy Litke, lived this quote every day. She was an extraordinary woman who shared her many positive traits with those around her through both her words and actions. She aspired to please others and inspired those of us who knew her to follow her example. When asked to describe her, I created a list of the “top seven” words that portray who Kathy Cockayne Karish Litke was.
1. Compassionate. While mom had many struggles and barriers to overcome in her lifetime, she always put others first. She worried about the well-being of her family, never hesitated to help a friend in need, and did for others without any thought of how her actions might inconvenience her. It was always about showing kindness, caring, and concern for others. She did this for me when I was diagnosed with cancer and needed surgery. She came to Virginia and took care of me for a month while I recovered from my surgery. …show more content…
Sincere. Mom was genuine. She was honest about her feelings. At times there would be some hesitations because she did not want to hurt feelings, but in the end she was earnest and heartfelt in her conversations. It was okay for us to think differently, and I appreciated her candor. Anything that she did or said was meant to impact others in a positive way, and her actions were motivated by her intense need to do what was best for others.
4. Courageous. Mom was brave and strong. She faced so many obstacles in her life. She lost a kidney, suffered a heart attack, and dealt with a host of health issues throughout her life. She lost the love of her life and was faced with raising four teenagers alone while suffering tremendous grief. Through these times and the many other difficult times in her life, she continued to remain strong for her family. She was afraid, but it was more important to remain strong for the people she