Kimberley J. Strachan died at sunrise on August 31. She was lovingly surrounded by her family and best friend at home. Kim was 47.

Born in White Plains, N.Y., on Oct. 4, 1966, she was the daughter of Robert and Rosaria Strachan of Fairfield, Conn., and Penelope Thomas and Orrin Parmelee of Gobles, Mich. 

She attended the Tisbury School and Martha’s Vineyard Regional High School. Many of her Island friends recall her sweet and thoughtful personality. She was the granddaughter of Seth and Mary Jane Thomas, formerly of Oak Bluffs.

Kimberley earned her master’s degree at Western Connecticut State University, certification in elementary education at Sacred Heart University, and bachelor of sciences at University of Connecticut at Storrs.

Kim enjoyed photography, gardening and finding sea glass. She delighted in hosting friends and family gatherings at her antique cottage in Groton, Conn. Kim will long be remembered as a gifted elementary teacher at Center School in Brookfield, where she taught for seven years and at the Lyme Consolidated School for 11 years, both in Connecticut. Her legacy lives on in the hundreds of children who passed through her classroom; they were loved and well prepared for the rest of their academic lives. 

Kimberley’s many friends, fellow teachers and family will miss her kindheartedness very much.

She is survived by her parents and her siblings: Jenifer Strachan and Steve Lohman of West Tisbury, Lisa Strachan and Brad Mendenhall of Vineyard Haven, Paul Bosler and Leyenda Harley and their daughter Ahsoka of Hamden, Conn. She was predeceased by her aunt, Mary Beth Thomas, with whom she shared a birthday and special bond.

A memorial service was held on Sept. 20 at the Bee and Thistle Inn in Old Lyme, Conn. She valiantly lived long beyond her prognosis. Donations in her memory may be made to the Connecticut Brain Tumor Alliance at ctbta.org.