Kitty Engel passed away peacefully on June 18, 2011.  

Kitty moved to Freeland in 2003 and was a deeply loved volunteer at Enso House, the hospice on Wahl Road.

She spent time cooking, sitting by the bedside, sharing her birds and most of all her deep wisdom. She also volunteered at Good Cheer and Tahoma One Drop. She was a frequent visitor to the Freeland library and Island Athletic Club; and she loved to paddle her kayak in Mutiny Bay. 

Kitty left Whidbey about a year ago to live with her son Jordan in Woodstock, Vt. Surrounded by family, and with the care of hospice, she passed away 10 months later. She is survived by her sons Steven and Jordan and her granddaughter Kate. 

Kitty was born in Vienna in 1925 and moved to New York City as a teenager. She raised two sons with her husband Eric while living in Levittown, N.Y.; Tarrytown, N.Y. and Winnetka, Ill. She then moved to Los Angeles, Calif., Breckenridge, Colo. and Boulder, Colo. before arriving on Whidbey to live in the island home of her long-time friend Kris. 

Kitty was an adventurous traveler and spent significant amounts of time in India, Thailand, Australia and Europe — travel oriented around her Buddhist practice and study. 

With a twinkle in her eye, Kitty asked for her ashes to be mixed with the cement used for the foundation of the new kitchen at Abhayagiri Monastery in Northern California. We will remember this plucky practitioner as we honor her request.

A memorial gathering will be held from 9 to 11 a.m. Sept. 15 at her former home; 6505 Wahl Road, Freeland. Come share your memories with her friends. For information, call Kris Wheeler, 206-269-0160.