May 20, 2024
Garabedian, Kilby Anne
Kilby Anne “Kibby” Garabedian of Westwood, MA (formerly of Princeton, MA and Grafton, MA) passed away after a long illness on May 8th at the age of 79. Kibby was born in Boston, MA and raised in NJ. She graduated from Mahwah Regional High School in 1962 and matriculated to Cheshire Hospital School of Nursing in Keene, NH, receiving a degree in 1965. During that same year on June 26th, she married her life-long sweetheart Richard A. Garabedian. They met in Keene, NH at a basketball game and remained together for 59 wonderful years.
Kibby was an acute care nurse at hospitals in Connecticut and Massachusetts and served as a nurse for the Red Cross Blood Services Northeast Region. While working full-time and raising her family, Kibby earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Assumption College in Worcester, MA and she was a Dean’s List graduate of Suffolk University Law School. She gained her admission to the Supreme Judicial Court of Massachusetts in 1988 and the United States District Court in 1989. Kibby joined the law firm of Bennett and Forts.
Combining her love and knowledge of both medicine and law, Kibby then joined the legal team at UMASS Memorial Health Care where was she described as a “force of nature” and recognized for her intelligence, honesty, and advocacy for all people. Kibby immensely enjoyed her tenure at UMASS Memorial where she worked for many years, serving at the end of her career as Deputy General Council, retiring in 2018.
Kibby was a devoted mother to her three children, Richard (Lori), Tamar (Lorn), and James (Dina) and loving Aijah to her eight grandchildren, Kayla, Alyssa, Taylor, Maya, Talia, Samuel, Katherine, and Nathan. A fabulous baker of cakes and pies, Kibby savored entertaining family and friends with great food, drink and conversation. She also enjoyed cycling, knitting, gardening, ballroom dancing, and attending all of her grandchildren’s various athletics and performing arts events. Kibby loved a good argument, discussed politics with zeal, and loved exploring family lineage and teaching her family about traditions, who they were and where they came from.
In addition to her husband, children, grandchildren, and beloved dog Cali, Kibby is survived by her dear brother Col. Henry “Chip” Cobb, his wife Laurie, and their daughter Kathryn.
Interment will be private. A memorial service for all who wish to attend will be held at Folsom Funeral Home on June 2nd at 2 pm, 649 High Street, Westwood, MA. In lieu of flowers gifts in memory of Kilby may be made to UMass Memorial Health (UMMH) in support of the Cancer Center. Gifts can be made online at donate.umassmemorial.org or mailed to: Office of Philanthropy, UMass Memorial Health, 365 Plantation Street, Biotech One, Worcester, MA 01605.
Comments(5)
Cousin
With Kilby’s passing, we have lost a most incredible friend, mentor, colleague and role model. Kilby was a trusted health care attorney who was knowledgeable and whose opinions were respected and trusted. She was a friend who was loyal and supportive but most importantly she was full of fun and someone whom everyone wanted to be with. Professionally, Kilby was a great teacher who could explain complex legal terms and concepts in a way that was understandable. She was a role model as a spouse, mother and grandmother and we will all miss and cherish her memory
Joel and I are so sorry for your loss. May God bless you and comfort you and give peace unto you
I am incredibly sad to learn of Kibby’s passing. Smart. Loving. Strong. Kind. Talented. Modest. Fun. Gracious. Down to earth. Kibby made every one of her homes a beautiful warm place to be. She seemed to be good at just about everything she touched.
My love and deep sympathy to the family she loved so much.
Holly Trahan
Kilby was an amazing person with a heart of gold. I loved seeing her smile everyday and her presence lit up the room. She will be tremendously missed.
Love, Carolyn and Ray