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Teacher believed in the worth and potential of every child and was deeply committed to justice, equality and compassion
Kimberly Ann Means, a beloved daughter, sister, mother, teacher and friend, passed away peacefully on June 19, 2025, surrounded by love and leaving the world brighter, funnier and more compassionate than she found it. Born on June 12, 1965, Kimberly was a longtime Vermonter, known for her strength, wit, compassion and radiant smile, an attribute that earned her "Most Beautiful Smile" in her senior year at Harwood Union High School. Her warmth and humor touched everyone who knew her. Kim dedicated nearly two decades of her life to teaching special education at Edmunds Middle School, where she was a cherished part of the school community. Her devotion to her students and fellow educators was evident in everything she did. She believed in the worth and potential of every child and treated all with deep kindness and care. She loved animals, especially her dogs, Talia and Dixie, and was an advocate for both people and animals alike. Kimberly was a person of conviction and was deeply committed to justice, equality and compassion. Socially and politically liberal, she cared deeply for justice and equity and would have appreciated the quiet poetry of her passing on Juneteenth, a day of freedom and meaning. Kimberly experienced profound losses in her life, including the early deaths of her two closest friends, but she met life's hardships with resilience, humor and love. Her presence was larger than life — strong, spirited and always authentic. She never hesitated to speak her truth or defend those in need. She is survived by her loving son, Nicholas, who was the center of her universe; her brother, Topher, with whom she shared a lifelong bond of mischief and friendship; her mother, Kathleen; her father, Peter, and his wife, Sue. Kimberly believed in guardian angels, and now she is one. She will be missed more than words can express. Her spirit lives on in those she loved, taught and touched and in every act of kindness done in her name. Family and friends are invited to Kim's home on Wednesday, June 25, 2025, at 2 p.m. for a celebration of her life…