A place to say goodbye
Leah Mattheis-Friberg
1970 - 2021
The
gorgeously vibrant, silly, powerful, deeply wonderful ball of energy known as
Leah Mattheis-Friberg died unexpectedly and unfairly in a car accident on July
23, 2021. Leah’s husband kEvin, and daughters Tuesday and Nova, share this loss
with her brothers, Luke and Josh, her father, Dale, her niece, Oceane, and
hundreds of friends, co-workers, and extended family.
Courageous, like a lioness, fierce in protecting her loved ones, her friends,
family, and also ideals, Leah was also uncannily at ease in a way that made all
around her feel safe and calm and treasured. She shows up to everything she did
with love, passion, honesty, humor and determination, and left everyone she
touched permanently inspired, healed through forgiveness, and entertained.
Born on November 2, 1970 in New London, CT, Leah spent her life across many
cities (and continents) proving that kindness and sincerity are the two most
basic requirements of health and joy. Her focus on clear, effective
communication and phenomenal team building extended to every aspect of her
family, career, friendship, and allyship.
Some people hold the world together more than others and there will never be
anyone else like Leah. If you feel a great well of angry sadness at her passing,
you are in good company. But she wouldn’t be proud of us for lingering in grief
alone. She would insist that we do something productive. Something good. Let’s celebrate Leah together and hug and cry
and laugh and sing.
Leah’s Celebration of Life Details
Saturday November 6, 3 – 5 pm
Phinney Center, 6532 Phinney Ave N,
Seattle, WA, 98103
We hope to provide a livestream link for those who wish to join the speaking
program online. Please fill in this 30-second Google
form if you want to receive emails about the event or to share ideas and
questions with family and friends who are organizing support.
We encourage you to wear something lovely and playful that reminds you of
Leah.
A note about Covid and what we are doing to keep
everyone safe: masks will be required except when eating & drinking; we highly
encouraged attendees to be vaccinated, and if you aren’t, that you take a Covid
test within 48 hours of the event; we will have the windows open and use both
floors of the event space; and all guests will sign in so we can contact trace
if needed.
Ways to honor and support Leah’s memory and family
- We are collecting photos for a slideshow at the celebration. Share your favorite Leah photos via DropEvent.
- Join the Friberg/Mattheis Support Group on Facebook to stay updated on opportunities, reflections, and needs from this community.
- Support a College Fund for Tuesday and Nova
- Extend the family’s meal service delivery with Venmo contributions to @Cricket-Farr. Cricket will purchase meal kits, PCC gifts, or whatever Kevin and the girls want. Please write “meal train” in the “what it’s for” section.
This is Carey Christie and I'm in charge of this page. Please remember that Leah's daughters might one day read any comments you leave in this space. Much love, CC
ReplyDeleteThanks for doing this Carey. Much love to everyone. Leah will always hold a very special place in our hearts. She was always kind to me and she and Kevin always let m come and hang out with Tuesday. I am grateful for the no nonsense approach and directness alongside the genuine loving kindness that graced her spirit. I'm sure that her daughters will carry that on with them through their own lives. Xox lurve, Pixie
DeleteThis is Cricket Farr. Leah was my friend, and I miss her every day. I’m saddened my everything about her loss, but today I’m especially sorrowed by the fact that the girls will not have a chance to know Leah as a friend. They had - have- the privilege of knowing her as a parent. It will be part of my task to let Tuesday and Nova know how she lived the definition of “friendship.”
ReplyDeleteI would like to be added to the zoom live stream if you have one please. I'm in Canada and can't make it there unfortunately. Pixie
ReplyDeleteOh my gosh this is incredible sad news. My heart goes out to all, especially Tuesday and Nova.
ReplyDeleteI am so sorry to hear this horrible and sad news. Tuesday and Hazel were on the same soccer team when they were little and Leah had such a fun and beautiful spirit. Sending you all tons of love. Lori and Hazel Graham
ReplyDeleteDear Kevin, Tuesday, and Nova - WorldSkills International is deeply shocked and saddened by this tragic accident. Leah was a highly professional, respected, and recognized Global Partner representative, always very energetic and passionate with her heart absolutely in the right spot. She was always a driver of group dynamics and her suggestions, comments, and reflections were driven by achieving positive outcomes for Fluke, for WorldSkills, and the partnership.
ReplyDeleteOver the years we also got to know Leah personally and loved being around her energy and positive spirit.
WorldSkills is global and advocates (vocational) education – Leah embraced this in our partnership, so we think the college fund for Tuesday and Nova is the right thing to contribute to. Our sincere condolences on behalf of WorldSkills – David Hoey and Alexander Amiri.