Kathy from Brown and Roberts – Where’s Kathy

by Namaya | Obituaries | 7643 Views

For Kathy, the wonderful person who worked at Brown and Roberts.

Where’s Kathy?

 “Kathy, you know

what I mean…

 

the thing a
majig

on top of the
lamp.”

“The keeper,”
she said with a laugh.

 

“Yeah, and that
other thing for the bottom

of the
electrical outlet.”

 

Without even
really looking, she

reached to her
right, and that part

magically
appeared in her right hand.

 

What would have
taken me

an hour at a big
box store, if I had

a mind to go
there,  I was done and

checked out
after ten minutes.

 

But, the best
part of all, it

was done with a
smile and a laugh.

This woman who I
did not know

beyond Brown and
Roberts, our

local hardware
store in Brattleboro,

Vermont, was
part of the fabric of

my life and the
community.

 

Whether I spent
a quarter or a dollar,

she would walk
me down to the aisle,

and with a life
time of knowing and

common sense, “You
have to put this

piece into this
and use this size  wire.”

In an instant, all
the parts to my project

were in a bag, and
I was checked out.”

 

Sure, the guys are always great, but

Kathy… is
fabulous!!!!

 

Today, I heard
that she had suddenly died.

 

This delightful
woman who knew every inch of

the store, where
every thing-a majig was, and how

to mend and
repair just about anything I walked in with…

 

I know that when
I next walk in there,

I will still
feel her presence, and I will hear

a voice tell me,
“Yup, go to the end of the aisle,

on the second
shelf down,  a little to the left,

you’ll find what
you’re looking for.”

 

Lost?

 

I don’t think
so,

I’ll call out, “where’s
Kathy?”

 

I know she will
always be there.

She’s always here,
at our local hardware store,

always here, in
our hearts and spirit.

 

Kathy, thank you
for saving me

from my many
home repair projects.

 

Namaya & Zoe April 29, 2013

Comments | 5

  • Submitted by Dfk-b on April 29, 2013 at 5:34 pm

    Kathy...

    Wow. I always liked Kathy. She was friendly and real. Does anyone have any more information on why she died??

    • Submitted by Amanda on April 30, 2013 at 10:41 am

      Obit from the Reformer

      I’m so sad to hear she has passed away. She was so nice, and such a helpful character.

      BRATTLEBORO Kathryn A. LeBlanc, 60, died Sunday, April 21, 2013, at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Hospital in Lebanon, N.H. She is survived by her mother; a sister; her brothers, and her nieces, nephews, grandnieces and grand nephews.

      Kathy was a long term employee of Brown & Roberts Hardware in Brattleboro, having worked there for the last 31 years.

      FUNERAL NOTICE: A graveside service will be held at the Evergreen Cemetery, Forest Lake Road, in Winchester, N.H., on Monday, April 29, 2013, at 11 a.m. All family and friends are invited to attend. She will be missed by all.

      FLETCHER FUNERAL HOME & CREMATION SERVICES, 33 Marlboro St., Keene, NH 03431 has been entrusted with funeral arrangements.

      • Submitted by Zippy on April 30, 2013 at 12:31 pm

        ouch

        I always looked for her. Years ago, she turned me on to “Bar Keepers Friend” when I had a recalcitrant blueberry stain. She also appreciated my weird sense of humor. So I always tried to find her.

        Warm thoughts and a quiet prayer up to Kathie, right now.

  • Submitted by paulgardner on April 29, 2013 at 6:28 pm

    Part of Brown & Roberts

    I will miss Kathy.
    She was friendly and helpful. Hard to imagine the place without her.

  • Submitted by Amanda on April 30, 2013 at 5:33 pm

    Also, I'd love to see B&R have a "thingamajig sale" in her honor

    She always managed to make me feel at ease when I was feeling very out of my element.

    So sad to hear she’s left us.

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