Kim was unleashed into this world on January 12, 1967, in Lincoln Park, Michigan. The wee bundle of joy and unabashed directness arrived as a first child for Carolyn Margaret (Sedowski) Pietraszewski and Marvin Martin Pietraszewski. Her younger brother, Martin “Marty” Pietraszewski, joined the family a few years later.
Kim grew up in Trenton, Michigan. She spent part of her junior year in Chihuahua, Mexico, the springboard for a lifetime of jumping “all in” to try new things and seek new adventures. Upon her return, she graduated from Edsel Ford High School in Dearborn, MI, class of 1985. She attended the University of Michigan where she met her husband, James “Jim” Williams. We would like to note that Kim was the “hot one” in their 33-year partnership.
Kim graduated from U of M in 1990 with her business degree. She and Jim attended Wayne State University together. Kim graduated with her law degree and Jim graduated with his medical degree. On December 26, 1991, they married, fully prepared for everything life would throw their way. Or, if not quite fully prepared, definitely fully present.
Kim, with her stylish rose-colored glasses, seized every day with a zest for life, bringing us all along with her. She encouraged us to participate in both the big and small moments of our lives. She lifted us up. She had a way of quieting all the noise to help us each find the path best aligned with our values. She was prepared for any circumstance, ready for any adventure – from home schooling to traveling the world. She drew the line, however, at picking up her husband in some random remote location because he ran out of gas. We all agree this was a fair line, since it was less an adventure and more a lack of planning. Kim was not one to waste a teachable moment. It was up to us to learn from them.
Kim loved her family and friends with all of her heart. She taught us all to be wholly who we are and confident in both our strengths and our faults. She gently let us fail and learn. She lovingly helped us succeed and soar. She was our confidant, our voice of reason, our instigator, our trailblazer, our fixer, our equalizer, our therapist, our bundle of surprises, our partner in crime, our get of jail free card, our accountability coach, our friend, our mom, Jim’s loving spouse.
On August 1, 2021, in Mesa, AZ, just before 6AM, she peacefully left her body. We weren’t ready. We are devastated. Cancer interrupted Kim’s plans and adventures. We miss her dearly, but we know she is with us as comfort in our sorrow. This will take many forms, from a gentle ocean breeze to a perfect hilarious thought (the kind that is too smart and too funny to be our own creation).
Kim was preceded in death by her mother, Carolyn. She is survived by her loving husband Dr. James Alton Williams II; their four children James “Jake” Alton Williams III, MBA, (Sandra), Zachary Tyler Williams, Kyle Joseph Williams, and Nicholas Clay Williams; her father Marvin; and her brother Marty. She is missed by her three adoring pups, Toby, Cosmo & Lucy. She is further survived by an enormous group of loving friends and extended family. Too many to name. Well, we could name them, but we don’t want them fighting over their position in the list.
We miss her. Each of us is lucky to be blessed with the badge of a Kim-shaped hole in our hearts.
Carpe Diem. See all “49 states” and the world. It’s what she would have wanted.
A visitation will be Wednesday, August 4, 2021 from 6-8 pm at Mountain View Funeral Home and Cemetery. Funeral services will be Thursday, August 5, 2021 at 10 am with graveside service to follow at Mountain View Funeral Home and Cemetery, 7900 E Main Street, Mesa AZ 85207.
To attend services virtually, please use the link below to sign in. This link will become available August 5, 2021 at 9:50am.
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88076646212?pwd=UTB1ZGpOUGFPaXh3dTZJalB1c3lIQT09
Meeting ID: 880 7664 6212
Passcode: 158476
I literally do not know what to say. This news hit me like a ton of bricks. I’ve known Kim since kindergarten and I just cannot believe she is gone. And I am devastated that I cannot be there to say goodbye because my mother also passed yesterday. Jaime we love you and I am so terribly sorry for you and your boys.
No words can express the sorrow
felt for the loss of such a Beloved friend.
I came to love her as we sat, watching our boys, at TKD, & the daily life stories were entertaining. You could write a book, I would tell her, & I would buy it, & read it.
Her outlook on life, as a fun loving intelect, Kim knew how to Live, Love, Laugh, & run, & so much more.
I treasured the times I got to see her & her family.
Prayers & Much love to her family.
Georgette McClymonds
Dear Jamie, sons, Uncle Marv Aunt Theresa and family,
Words can’t express how sad we are at your loss. We pray the love of God enfolds you during your journey through grief. What moves through us is a silence, a quiet sadness, a longing for one more word, one more touch. We may not understand why Kim left so soon, but little by little, we begin to remember not just that Kim died, but that Kim lived! And Kim’s life gave us memories to beautiful to forget.
Our Deepest Sympathy,
Love, Kathy and George Nadler
Jim, Jake, Zach, Kyle, Nick & extended family we offer our condolences for your loss. We are so grateful to have known & loved Kim, she was one of the kindest, warmest & smartest people we had the privilege of knowing. She loved her boys so much & was so proud to be their mom. Kim was an inspiration to our family as she approached life with such tenacity and zest, excited to seek out new adventures. We will truly miss Kim & will be forever grateful for the memories we shared and the times we treasured. Love and warmth to you all,
The Gurrola Family
Our sincerest condolences to all of Kim’s family and friends. May you all find peace and joy in celebrating the wonderful person she was. Love and best wishes to you all.
Friend of 30 years ♥️ Kim and Jamie and the Boys . Sending heartfelt condolences
Bill
No words can express our 💔 broken hearts! Kim was an amazing woman and loved her family. She will be missed. Sending love and hugs to the family ! Our hearts are broken!
Our hearts are simply broken for you and your amazing boys, Jamie, we will always cherish our time together and we smile when we think of Kim racing up to the vineyard completely fearless in the Cobra❣️We love you entirely and we are so very sorry for your loss 💔
All our love, Bill & Jill
Kim was one of my best friends and part of my strong support system through homeschooling.
We also shared a love of hiking and recently hiked together often. She was always up for adventure and willing to do that extra mile with me. I’m devastated and will miss her terribly.
What a beautiful tribute to Kim. Sending prayers and love 💕.
I have been in shock since I was told of Kim’s passing on Sunday. I met Kim in middle school. We played clarinet together. I was always in awe of Kim. She was smart, beautiful, and had a wicked sense of humor! She was one of the funniest people I knew. I followed her on Facebook as she and her family moved to Arizona. What a beautiful family! Raising four boys and starting a new life in Arizona with Jim! They all looked like they had a zest for life and were very happy in their new location. I remember being jealous, because age never seemed to touch Kim, the older we all get, the more beautiful she became.
My deepest condolences go out to the family, Kim was a very special person and will always be remembered.
May the love of those around you help you through the days ahead. May all the amazing memories you shared together give you strength and comfort. Thinking of you and sending our love. ♥
She was a wonderful woman, mother,and wife to my cousin James Williams. I will surely miss her welcoming smile and her kindness she shared with us all. To all that are mourning right now my deepest condolences. She’ll be waiting for us on the “ other side” with our other family members that have “ gone” on before us. . She will be missed by us all on this day and until we see her again. God bless her husband Jamie, her father Marvin my aunt Theresa , and the rest of her immediate family extended family and “our family.” God Bless your soul Kim. Amen . Your cousin Michael E. Wilson
Kim has been such a good friend since elementary school. I member many afternoons in fourth and fifth grade hanging out in her bedroom reading Dynamite magazine. We started to write a book together based on a favorite one we read “There’s a Pizza Back in Cleveland” a book set as a series of letters between two friends. Through all our lives – I loved her sense of adventure – always ready to travel anywhere. I was so glad she was able to come to China where we ran the great wall half marathon and then she visited me in Shanghai. I will remember her always with great fondness.
Dear Jamie and family,
I was so shocked and saddened to hear about Kim. I had no idea that she had even been ill. I have many fond memories of hanging out with both of you and Pam and Joel. Some of my fondest memories of Kim were the times we ran together. She always understood how important it was for her to maintain her fitness while dealing with her arthritis. It was always such a great feeling to see the joy on her face when she would finish a run. You could tell she was proud that she didn’t let arthritis win for that moment! My run yesterday morning was dedicated to her. I was struggling a bit, but thought of her and her courage and strength and I finished strong. I blew a kiss to the sky, cried, and told her she will be missed. She will live on in my memory as a source of strength and courage to do the things that are hard and uncomfortable , but never impossible.
May you all find peace and live on in her strength. Sending you all much love.
I cannot fathom a world without Kim, She befriended me when I was 33 and trying to find something to do in a wheelchair ,she invited me to watch her play tennis at the high school and I’d give her a ride home. She was one of the kindest most sincere people I ever met and the world will be a lesser place without her.
But we all know that life is short and God always seems to take the best ones early.
The Stream will cease to flow
The wind will cease to blow
The clouds will cease to fleet
The heart will cease to beat
for all things must die
Rest in peace Kim
Jim, I only just learned from Laurie about Kim’s passing. I cannot begin to tell you how very sorry I am that such a vibrant, dynamic person had to experience cancer and that she could not beat it. That lovely obit tells me that you and your kids are finding the strength that she left with you and all those memories and all that love. I hope you all can thrive through this grief, blessed to have had her in your lives.