Katherine S Kramer

Kay was born and raised in Bali Indonesia but lived in Canada for 10 years as the result of a previous marriage. She would spend summers with her niece in Valencia Ca. She eventually relocated to Virginia Beach VA to marry me January 17th , 2008.  Kay and I ​ relocated from VA Beach to Charleston SC in the summer of 2008 for a job opportunity.   

 

“Kay was always called "Ketut" by her family, but she wanted to be called “Kay or Katherine” by myself and her new circle of friends in Charleston SC.

 

Kay worked for custom lighting company "Ro Sham Beaux" creating custom chandeliers and lamps for over 13   years. Kay loved her job and especially the people who she worked with. Kay was so very detailed in her work, she had so much patience her work was always impeccable. Kay developed a very close bond with the owner of the company, Ann. Kay and Ann had planned to travel to Bali together.   

 

Kay and I had been together for 19 years including 17 years of marriage.  Friends always ask how two people so far from each other could have possibly met.  It started with a funny little comment by Kay on the old social website “MySpace” .  She saw a picture of me posing with my motorcycle and said” Hey mister I like your bike” .  I asked her if she would like a ride and she said “yes". From there we would chat for hours by phone.  At that time, she was visiting with her niece in Valencia CA, and I was in Virginia Beach. As fate would have it, I had a work project in Oakland CA. I asked her if she would like to fly up to Oakland to visit me. She said “yes". From there we hit it off and I knew there was something special about Kay. She had an effervescent spirit that made everything we did special.  Her immigration status blocked her from coming to the states to visit me in Virginia.  So, after a year of traveling back and forth to Canada to visit her, we finally received a visa for us to get married. 

 

Kay travelled with me extensively for the first few years of our marriage. She made friends with so many hotel staff members. She always looked at them as equals and enjoyed talking to them about their jobs and families. Kay also loved being around seniors, she had enormous respect for their age and wisdom. She worked in a retirement home in Canada for several years and could remember many of the individual people she served there.  Kay eventually got tired of my work travel and settle down to work at the lighting company.   

 

Kay was a fantastic dancer. She learned traditional Balinese dancing at a very early age. She was very good at it and had such pose and grace. She respected and cared about her Balinese culture and traditions. Her long slender fingers accented that style of dancing. Her expressive eyes made her performances a joy to watch. Beyond her traditional dancing Kay just loved to dance period.  Any kind of music could get her hips swaying and a big smile on her face. Kay loved to travel and went to many places during our marriage. We traveled to Europe, Canada, Caribbean and so many states. Though her favorite place was Maui. She loved natural beauty of the island . Walking through the tropical forest and seeing the black sand beaches was sheer ecstasy for her. Eating at a simple roadside food truck meal was better than any 5-star restaurant I could have taken her to. 

 

We always went somewhere new and exciting for Christmas. It was our little tradition. She couldn’t wait for the next trip. Sometimes she would complain that we never went anywhere. To which I would rattle off a hundred places we went. She would always smile and say, "but what’s the next place”  It didn’t always need to be someplace far. Many times, just a drive to the ocean or around a new neighborhood would be all it would take to calm her wondering spirit.   

 

Kay was diagnosed with Stage IV ALK POS lung cancer in January of 2020. At that time, she was able to use a medication that was that was specifically made to control that type of cancer. She had the cancer under control for 4 years. She endured endless CT scans, blood test and various surgeries. She fought her cancer battle optimism and grace. Always knowing that it could eventually win. In March of 2024 Kay was diagnosed with a secondary cancer called Leiomycarcoma. This cancer was aggressive and did not respond to treatment. Kay never gave up hope and never showed any fear. She was the bravest person I’ve have ever known. Right up to the point the cancer surgeon told her she was going to die. She said it was okay because she had hope and she had God.   

 

From there she came back to our home for hospice care. After seven and a half days, Kay quietly passed away in her own bed in her own home.  

Both her parents preceded her in death: Ni Ketut Sudarma, Mother, I Wayan Meja, Father. She is survived by: Karl D Kramer, Husband, Alex R Elman , brother-in-law, Leon R. Elman, brother-in-law, Marilyn Elman, mother-in-law. Wayan Budha, older brother, Ni Nengah Suneni, sister-in-law, I Putu Danika Pryatna, nephew, I Made Marcoluna, nephew, Weny Michelstein, niece, Nyoman Wenten older brother, Nanik Wenten sister in law.

 

 

Kay had many friends. So many in fact that it’s hard to say just how many. So many people loved her and adored her. It became evident when they visited during hospice. Kay had no fear of dying. She knew she would be eventually received in the Lords arms. She professed her belief and acceptance in Jesus Christ as her savior and was baptized at Northwoods Church March 9, 2025.   

 

Kay was cremated May 30, 2025. There was no funeral as the hospice was the place where friends and family said their last goodbyes to her. Instead, there will be a celebration of her life later this year. Kay did not want tears shed for her. She wanted smiles and happy remembrance. Things that reflected her utter joy in her life and the people in it. The world was a better place while she was in it, she made me a better person and a more caring person. She taught me the most important thing in this life is the people in your life and you should put love above all else. We only get once chance at it. I love you Honey, you made every day a reason to wake up and I’ll miss you always.