Katherine Wilson Farrow Jorrens, who brought such joy and brightness to the world, died on Sept. 25, peacefully and on her own terms at the home of her wonderful caregiver, Bill Kilgour, and in the company of her loving family.

Kit was born in Rochester, New York, on March 15, 1935, the daughter of Edward Samuel Farrow Jr., and Ruth Wilson Farrow.

Her father was a vice president and general manager at Eastman Kodak, and she carried on the tradition with her Kodak Bantam camera always by her side. Her family jokes that she kept the camera shop in Acton in business.

Martha’s Vineyard played a central part in the Farrow family. Meeting House on Abel’s Hill in Chilmark, built in 1940, served as base of operations. Kit began spending summers there when she was five and her connection with the Island continued to grow. Her brothers, Ted and Rod, and sister, Ruth, and nieces and nephews built homes on the Vineyard. Kit was always so appreciative of her familial hosts on the Island.

Kit graduated from the Columbia School in Rochester, N.Y. in 1953 and made her way west to attend Mills College, an all-women’s school in Oakland, Calif. She majored in French, studied art history, and graduated in 1957 as a member of Phi Beta Kappa. She spent her junior year abroad in France and returned for a post-graduate year in 1957. She was a steadfast supporter of her college and educational opportunities for women.

In April of 1958 in Biot, France, Kit met Peter Jorrens, who was working in North Africa at the time. Peter followed her back to the United States where they were married in Rochester, N.Y. on July 24, 1959. Peter earned his master’s degree in engineering from Northeastern University and she worked at the Boston Center for Adult Education, marking the beginning of a career in education.

In 1961, they settled in Acton where they would remain until 2014. Their first child died at birth and she was followed by two sons in 1963 and 1967, Lars and Marc. The Jorrens family made several trips to Europe during the boys’ early years, visiting family and friends and hiking in the Alps.

During her sons’ years in the Acton school system, she worked as a substitute teacher, and tutored students, mainly in French. She then began her 28-year involvement with Language School International in Acton, teaching ELL to students from around the world. Kit loved to develop curricula for each student and bringing them into her extended family.

Music was elemental to Kit’s being. She was a devoted member of the Concord Chorus for 35 years and the Harvard Unitarian Church choir for 24 years. One of her crowning achievements was to have the Concord Chorus sing a choral piece created by her longtime friend, the jazz legend Dave Brubeck, who attended the concert.

In their later years, Kit and Peter moved to Vermont to be closer to their son, Lars. After Peter’s passing, Kit moved to Concord, Vt, to be even closer to Lars and his wife, Jen. She spent the last two years of her life with Bill Kilgour, who breathed new life into her. Her mind was clear until the end.

Kit was predeceased by her husband of 56 years. She is survived by her son Lars Botzojorns and two grandchildren, son Marc Jorrens; twin brother Rodney Downing Farrow and many nephews and nieces.

Kit’s ashes will be spread in private ceremonies on the beaches of Martha’s Vineyard, on the land in Barnet, Vt., and in the air from Marc’s ultralight aircraft. Plans are for a marker to be placed in the Chilmark Cemetery on the Vineyard with a celebratory gathering on August 3 and 4, 2019.

Contributions in Kit’s name can be made to the Katherine Wilson Farrow Jorrens Memorial Scholarship Fund at Mills College by visiting the Mills College online giving page.