|
“I will never forget her beautiful smile,” people often said when sharing news of Kayannette Gabrielle’s passing on March 24, 2026. She had a smile that radiated from her captivating, blue eyes and made them sparkle. If the eyes are truly the window to the soul, then her soul shone with love and light – a fitting reflection of how she often signed off her letters, cards and emails to friends and family.
Kayannette, born Kay Rybicka, on October 31, 1949, grew up north of Bennett on a dryland farm with her father Courtland “Courty” Rybicka, mother Alvira “Vi” Rybicka and older brother Roger Rybicka. Growing up, she was not confined to household chores; instead, she often joined her father in tackling the many tasks required on the farm. A capable, intelligent, and strong-willed girl, she was encouraged by her dad to think creatively, solve problems, and use the resources at hand to address whatever needed fixing or adaptation.
One of the last to be schooled at the Sunnydale Schoolhouse, off East 144th near 1-79, she later attended Strasburg High School, graduating as Salutatorian in 1967. Her passion for learning and for exploring the richness of life was evident in every endeavor she pursued. During high school, she immersed herself in school life—cheerleading, the Pep Club, the National Honor Society, the Spanish Club, the Art Club, the Music Club, the school paper, and the annual staff—while also serving on the student council and holding a class officer position for two years. Her leadership, ambition and many talents shone brightly as she was crowned Athletic Queen and performed in the school play, leaving a lasting impression on everyone who knew her.
After high school, she attended Southern Colorado State College (which later became CSU Pueblo) for a short time and helped support herself as a secretary and a medical stenographer, perhaps sparking her interest in the medical field. She married her high school sweetheart, Bruce Hanlon, on September 4, 1968, and soon afterward relocated to Sacramento, California, following his Army service orders. They also spent some time in Tacoma, Washington while he was in the Army.
After their time in Sacramento and Tacoma, they returned to Colorado and lived on the Hanlon family farm north of Byers. Soon thereafter, they welcomed their first child, Brett, in 1970, followed by their second, Jared (named Jerry at birth), in 1973. She continued to help her father with the family farm, including driving truck during summer harvest, and also worked at the local lumber company in her early twenties.
Those lumber connections would later prove helpful when their third child was on the way and they needed a larger home. With land gifted by her grandmother, Helen Rybicka, they designed and built their own home nearby. The home was completed shortly after the birth of their third child, Colette, in 1975, and still stands today, surrounded by the windbreak trees they planted.
Kayannette was not content to be a stay-at-home mother, nor could the family afford for her to be, so she took on whatever work came her way and interested her. This included time in the dialysis unit at Presbyterian Hospital in Denver and work with the Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA). She later landed a position she truly excelled in with Champlin Petroleum Company, serving as Executive Assistant to the Vice President of Land.
After a period of separation, Kayannette and Bruce officially dissolved their marriage in 1982. After the school year ended, she and her three children moved to Littleton. While raising her kids there, she became deeply involved with Cherry Creek Presbyterian Church in Englewood, singing in the choir, attending Bible school, teaching Sunday school, and servings as a trained Stephen Minister for a time.
However, her spiritual journey expanded beyond Christianity, as her journey was uniquely her own - shaped by a deep curiosity about life’s greater meaning and a belief in love, light, and a higher connection. She explored meditation, holistic healing, and other introspective spiritual practices, and devoted significant study to Kabbalah, a pursuit that continued throughout her life.
When Champlin relocated its operations to Dallas, Texas, she was offered the opportunity to move with the company but chose to remain in Colorado to provide stability for her children and continue building the life they had started in Littleton. Having done some side work for an attorney, she transitioned into the legal field and worked as a legal assistant in downtown Denver. Finding the commute challenging and feeling underappreciated, she embarked on self-employment while pursuing a degree in Business Management and volunteering as a Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA), advocating for children in the court system.
Although pursuing higher education, exploring her spirituality, and earning a living were all important to her, raising her children to be independent, educated, conscientious, spiritually grounded, and successful in life was her greatest priority. This was no small task as a working single mother of three. While she was by no means a hovering parent, she consistently encouraged her children to work hard and pursue their passions. Whether it was mastering computer systems (Brett), inventing and engineering (Jared), or excelling in academics and athletics (Colette), she supported and cheered them on in every endeavor.
Once her children had grown and set out on their own paths, and she felt she had laid the foundation they needed, she decided it was time for a new chapter in her own life. Her interest in the Healing Arts had deepened, and she came to recognize it as her calling. After several visits to see Colette in college in San Francisco and Brett, who was working and completing his studies in computer systems in the Los Angeles area, she felt increasingly drawn to California. She eventually settled in Cambria, placing herself geographically between her children – Jared relocated to the Los Angeles area soon after as well - and embraced this new chapter of life with intention and peace.
While in Cambria, she worked as an alternative medicine practitioner, offering bodywork to both locals and visitors. She continually sought new healing methods to expand her skills, diligently pursuing her quest for knowledge, wellness, and spiritual understanding.
After living in Cambria for several years, she left in 2006, for unknown reasons, and spent a brief period closer to Brett and Jared in the LA area. Then, following a visit from Colette from San Francisco, and visits from Brett and Jared as well, she became unexpectedly unreachable. Given her history as a world traveler—having visited Australia more than once—her family initially believed she was simply traveling. However, as time passed and contact could not be reestablished, concern grew and a missing person’s report was filed.
Eleven years later, she was found in Santa Barbara, California. During that time, she had been quietly struggling with significant mental health challenges that were not yet understood by those who loved her. While many questions remain about those years, what mattered most to her family was that she had been found and was safe.
After spending a brief time near her eldest in the Los Angeles area, she returned to Colorado and lived with her daughter and her life partner, just minutes from her father. This marked the beginning of a deeply personal chapter focused on healing, both mentally and physically. It was also a time of slowly reconnecting with her family, including meeting for the first time the grandchildren and extended family who had grown and flourished during her years away.
The journey was not an easy one, but she met it with courage and quiet strength, taking each step as it came.
Unfortunately, not long after she re-entered her family’s lives, she was diagnosed with dementia. In the years that followed, she found moments of joy and comfort in simple pleasures - taking walks, reading, writing, playing Sudoku and puzzles, watching Broncos games, and spending time with family and friends.
As the disease progressed, her ability to engage in these activities gradually diminished, but her presence, spirit, loving hugs, and still radiant smile remained deeply meaningful to those around her. She passed away on March 24, 2026, in a hospital in Fort Collins, Colorado, with her daughter holding her hand.
Kayannette is predeceased by her mother and father and is survived by her three children, Brett (Lori) Hanlon, Jared (Thelma) Hanlon, and Colette (Kevin Fletcher) Hanlon; her grandchildren, Anthony (Sara) Hanlon, Jaden Hanlon, and Troy Hanlon; her great-granddaughter, Ramona Hanlon; her brother, Roger Rybicka; and her cousins, John M. Hunt III and Sharon Grammer (widow of her late cousin Elizabeth Hunt).
|