Kristin Dralle

Kristin passed away early on the morning of Monday, March 12th. She had her loving family and friends at her side. She will forever be missed by anyone that was the recipient of one of her radiant smiles or those who had the wonderful opportunity to know her better than that original heart melting smile. Our hearts ache for her two sons, Zach and Kai, as they will grow up without their loving mother to guide them and shine her love upon them.

We know that Kiki’s family and friends will continue with Kristin’s life work, that of raising two of the best children ever. Kristin is out of pain and she fought the most amazing fight of her life. Never complaining, always smiling and living in the moment for every single extra second she could squeeze out of her short life. The family sends its many thanks to the Bellingham Hospice House for their wonderful care.

Kristin was born on October 2nd, 1969 in Salem, Oregon. She lived in Monmouth, Oregon until she was three years old and her family relocated to Olympia, Washington. After two years in Olympia, Kristin moved with her family to Bellingham, WA. She attended Happy Valley Elementary, Fairhaven Middle School and graduated from Sehome High School in 1988. She received her undergraduate degree from Western Washington University in 1994. In 2003 she received her masters in Social Work from Eastern State University. It was her life long mission to help others. She really found her life work’s calling in 2009 when she became a hospital social worker. Unfortunately, it was during this time that she was diagnosed with Cancer.

Kristin will always be remembered as one of the most caring people you could ever want to know. Even as she was dying in the hospice house and people would drop by to visit her, she wanted to know how they were doing. Some of the social workers joked that if you asked Kristin how she was she would turn it around and deflect it back to you because she cared more about your minor ails than her own major one. Even if it was to ask you about your hangnail and how it was hurting you, all the while she was dying of cancer.

Kiki (as she is affectionately known by friends and family members) loved life. She was the bright light in so many people’s lives, hearts and souls. She will forever be missed and none of us can even begin to come to terms with this. Maybe it is true, only the good die young, but we have lost an angel.

She is survived by her parents, Sharon Chase and Wayne & Sue Dralle, her sons, Zachary age 5 and Kyle Hogue age 3 and their father John, all of Bellingham, Washington, her brother Lee Dralle of Los Angeles, CA and her sister Lynn Dralle, niece Indiana and nephew Houston Wilson of Rancho Mirage, CA and numerous aunts, uncles and cousins. She was preceeded in death by her beloved grandmother Cheryl Leaf, and many of her special pets (she loved loved loved animals), the most special being Caesar. We are sure she is with them now and giving them her special Kiki smile and TLC.

In lieu of flowers please send donations to the boy’s college fund at WECU PO Box 9750 Bellingham, WA 98227 c/o #308650 Wayne Dralle, to the Whatcom Hospice House, or Lions Club Wheelchair Warehouse.

PS If any of you have memories to share of Kiki and the boys, please write them down and email them to us at ld@thequeenofauctions.com. We want to make a memory book for Zach and Kai and we will share some of these at the ceremony of life. Thank you.

We love and miss you Kiki.