In Memoriam: Celeste Carey

In Memoriam: Celeste Carey

Celeste was a member of King County Kinship Collaborative, known not only for her dedication to the wellbeing of kinship families and children in foster care but for her sense of humor, knowledge and wisdom in general and especially concerning child welfare and legislative issues. She shared her expertise generously, and was both respected and loved. Celeste will be missed greatly by the social work and kinship community.

Celeste Carey, 59 , died of natural causes March 3, 2013 at St. Joseph Hospital surrounded by family and friends. Born April 27, 1953 to Walter and Lessie Davis in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Celeste traveled the world while in the military, but made her home in Tacoma. After 22 years in the Army Celeste retired in 1994 as Sergeant First Class.

Upon retirement Celeste worked in Social Services. Celeste advocated for all Foster children, working with community partners to help bring hope to children and families in need. Celeste always put others in front of her own needs. Her honesty is what made her noble. Celeste was a pillar of strength and an inspiration to all who met her and will be greatly missed. Celeste is survived by her son, Jed Carey, daughter in-law Christina Carey, Grandsons JaQory and Alonzo Carey, and her brothers, Paul (Debra) Davis and James Davis and nephew PJ. Military service was held on Thursday March 14th at 3:00 p.m. at Tahoma National Cemetery.

Published in The Seattle Times from Mar. 11 to Mar. 12, 2013

In Memoriam: Jamie Belitz

Jamie was a former member of the FPAWS Board. Jamie and his wife Mel were instrumental in our efforts to unionize foster parents which led to what is now referred to as 1624. They were also there as we built the lawsuit that led to what is currently an additional $300+ increase in the basic foster care reimbursement rate. Foster parent in Washington State are much better off because Jamie was on our team.

Former Board member Daryl Daugs writes:

Jamie was radical, passionate, irreverent, a total SOB, and a dear friend. I had both the fun of being on the same side of political campaigns with him and the pain of being on the opposite. I did not know Jamie as long as some. I met him 20 or so years ago working together on a fundraiser for a foster care agency. Some of my WA State politico friends have known him since his time at Western Washington University in the 70’s and the early days of the Young Democrats of WA State. So some of you have loved and hated him over the years much longer than me. Jamie, Mel, and their daughter Sarah moved to the DC area a few years ago so they could start making waves on the other coast. A local Bremerton connection, Jamie served on the Turner Joy in the Merchant Marines. There are too many stories about Jamie to tell. Some can’t be told because of the statute of limitations affecting some of us still here. My heart goes out to Melody Curtiss & Sarah Beletz. I am going to miss him deeply.

We will post his obituary when it is available.

In Memoriam: Diane Canfield

Mike Canfield writes: My mom and dad became foster parents when I was 9 years old. Our first foster kids were a 9 year boy and his 2 year old sister. They were left on a bench at the bus station in Eugene Oregon. I watched my parents do their best to care for our new family members. There was no training and expectations were high that a loving home would be all kids in care needed. To that end, my mom, and dad, had a huge influence in who I am as a man, husband, father, grandfather and foster parent. My mom loved playing cards and is known for her saying, “there are aces in there”. I can’t see an ace without thinking of my mom.

Diane J. Canfield
Diane J. Canfield, of Snohomish, WA, beloved wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother, passed away at home April 6, 2010. Diane was born in Chicago, IL October 31, 1934 to Albert and Carmen Frydenlund. She grew up in San Francisco, CA and graduated from Balboa High School in 1952.
Diane married her husband, Charles, November 29, 1953 and moved to Yachats, OR in 1954 where she raised her four children. The family moved to Eugene in 1962 where Diane worked as a waitress and was kitchen supervisor at a retirement home. She and Charles were foster parents for many infants and abused children for 15 years. They moved to Seattle, WA in 1983 where Diane worked as Administrative Assistant in the computer department for Great Northern Annuities. She retired in 1993 the day she turned 62.
She leaves behind her husband of 56 years, Charles; their four children, Deborah Bailey (Larry), of Everett, Susan Hardin (Robert), of Lake Stevens, WA, Michael Canfield (Beth), of Silverdale, WA, and Kathryn Canfield, of Snohomish, WA; 10 grandchildren; and 10 great-grandchildren; cousin, Barbara Henderson, of Grants Pass, OR; half brothers, Tom Frydenlund (Sharon), and Jack Frydenlund, of CA; sisters-in-law, Doris Gardenhire (Hobart) and Joyce Holt; and many friends.
Diane’s main interest was her home, family and her flowers. She got her last wish which was to be home for Easter with her family, friends, and flowers.
The family wishes to thank the staff of Merry Haven Care Center of Snohomish for the wonderful care they provided for the last several months of Diane’s life.
Memorial services will be from 12-4 p.m. on April 24, 2010, at the family home. Burial will be in Yachats, OR at a later date.
Arrangements are under the direction of Bauer Funeral Chapel, Snohomish, WA.

In Memoriam: David Keating

Image may contain: 2 people, people smiling
Amber Keating
https://www.dcyf.wa.gov/node/1547 how many lives he changed. He was the good on earth.

Dave Keating will be remembered through the hundreds of children he and his wife fostered over a 30 year period.

For over 30 years Dave and Denise Keating welcomed hundreds of foster children into their home in Enumclaw.

They treated each child as if they were their own and adopted, became legal guardians, and created lifetime bonds with many of the children that came through their doors. Jason Pollock, a social worker who has worked with the family for over four years, says he witnessed time and time again, the Keating’s going above and beyond for many of Washington’s high-needs foster children. In 2008, the Keating’s were asked if they would care for a medically-fragile youth over the weekend. Not only did the child – who was diagnosed with Duchene Muscular Dystrophy and 10-years-old at the time – stay with the Keating’s that weekend, he was part of their household until right before his 21st birthday.  

“All of the children in the home have some level of special needs,” explained Pollock. “The Keating’s have gone well beyond anything that could have been expected of them as caregivers.” This was not out of the ordinary for the Keating’s. The couple served as an advocate for their kids at schools and with providers, they participated in the Special Olympics, kept their children engaged with their peers and birth families, and worked closely with the Children’s Hospital to do whatever was necessary to improve the quality of life for their kids. 

Connie Lambert-Eckel, Assistant Secretary of Child Welfare Field Operations at the Department of Children, Youth, and Families, recognized the couple for their caring and compassionate work in a letter she sent to them on Dec. 10. “To quietly and lovingly care for many special needs children, who need us the very most, is what Dave and Denise Keating so beautifully demonstrated in their over 30 years of devotion for all of the children who came into their lives,” Lambert-Eckel said. “We respect and honor their commitment to children.”

The recognition was bittersweet. Dave Keating, 59, passed away on Dec. 11 in his home, surrounded by his loved ones. 

“While we lost Dave Keating all too soon this year his legacy of profound caring and commitment to children, especially those children with special needs, will live on through his loving wife Denise and all the children they loved, protected and nurtured in the past 30 plus years,” said Lambert-Eckel. Often the assumption is that there are not enough foster parents in the state of Washington, while more foster parents could increase placements, the need is greater for children with special needs, behavioral issues, and children of color. Lambert-Eckel urges people across the state to become foster parents, especially if they can look beyond the challenges and put extra effort into the heart of a child in need by offering love, care, and support.  

“Denise and Dave Keating personified this way of serving as loving and devoted foster parents for over 30 years,” she said. “We at the DCYF are eternally grateful to Dave and Denise.”

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