SUEANN MUSICK: Popular columnist Kathy Golemiec has passed away

Earlier this week, we received word from Kathy Golemeic’s family, that she had passed away.

We knew she hadn’t been well, but even as her health weakened, her family held hope that the strength that pulled her through her latest fight with cancer as she had so many times in the past.

Unfortunately, Kathy’s long struggle with the disease ended Tuesday and our thoughts and prayers are with her family in this difficult time.

Knowing Kathy has been a surprising and rewarding journey for us at the paper that began a few years ago when this petite blond woman stopped me in the lobby of our building to ask if we were interested in her writing a column.

When I asked her about the column topic, she said “It’s about me”. She explained she was just diagnosed with cancer and her prognosis wasn’t good, but instead of feeling sorry for herself, she wanted to share her story in hopes of helping others.

Well, if first impressions mean everything, Kathy made a big one. As I struggled to find the right words, she continued to talk about how her column would be funny and honest and focus on her doctor’s appointments, treatments and her own health in hopes of alleviating some of the stress that others feel in the same situation.

She told me she had been down this road once before and she wanted people to know it was okay to laugh and cry as they fight for life.

How could anyone say no that?

Kathy did not disappoint us. She wrote about her doctor’s appointments, her family, her pets, her friends. She made conversations about bodily functions seem normal and even when things got really low, she always kept her words positive with “Woo Hoos” sprinkled through her paragraphs on a regular basis.

She held the door to her world wide open and invited everyone in.

She would regularly receive cards and gifts from people as well invitations to speak publicly about her life. She was stopped by people at the flea market, hospital and grocery stores telling her they loved her column that ran in New Glasgow, Cape Breton, Truro and Amherst papers.

Life was not easy for Kathy and cancer left her struggling on many levels, but she proved that a positive attitude is powerful medicine.

And to that, we say, Woo Hoo, Kathy. Woo Hoo.

Sueann Musick is a community editor and reporter with the The News in New Glasgow. She also writes a column called Beyond the Notebook.