The household of Katherine Goldstein, who was killed within the mass taking pictures at Highland Park’s Independence Day parade Monday, remembered her because the “finest mother on the planet” and “such a great particular person.”
This is what her household penned following her dying:
Above all else, Katherine “Katie” Goldstein put household first. “She was one of the best mother on the planet,” her daughters Cassie and Alana mentioned. Her husband Craig, a hospital doctor, has been touched by the quantity of people that have informed him that Katie was their finest pal. She was a sort and giving particular person to everybody who crossed her path. A pal mentioned, “Katie was such a great particular person, and also you turned a greater particular person in her presence.” “I by no means heard her say a foul phrase about anybody,” Craig mentioned.
Katie and Craig initially met at Marquette College after which reconnected 20 years later. Craig famous that once they noticed one another for the primary time after 20 years, they each knew they had been going to fall in love and marry. Katie devoted herself to motherhood and caring for her household. “Elevating our daughters, having fun with adventures collectively – I used to be dwelling a fairy story,” mentioned Craig.
Katie was Cassie’s greatest fan when she was within the Highland Park Excessive Faculty Marching Band and attended each one in every of Alana’s musical performances. “She got here to my center college present all three nights that it ran,” recalled Alana. Katie loved enjoying board video games together with her household and arranged late night time contests for Bananagrams. She was identified to say that even when her daughters went off to school, she didn’t really feel like an “empty nester” as a result of she nonetheless had Craig in the home.
Katie’s kindness and generosity had been evident all through her life. An outstanding cook dinner, she all the time accommodated particular requests and ready meals for prolonged household and pals. Vegan? Vegetarian? Fish allergy? No downside for Chef Katie. She helped care for her aged mother and father in Wisconsin and her mother-in-law who lived with the Goldsteins in Highland Park. She was a nurturing pal who gave everybody her full consideration.
Katie additionally beloved being exterior, having fun with visits to the Chicago Botanic Backyard and involving her complete household in her ardour for chicken watching. She beloved to downhill ski with household. She pursued her love of nature and animals by visiting unique places together with the Peruvian Amazon, Costa Rica, and Panama.
Goldstein was on the parade together with her daughter Cassie Goldstein, who informed NBC Nightly Information that she thought at first that the gunfire was fireworks. However then she seemed up and noticed the shooter firing down on the youngsters.
“And I informed her that it was a shooter and that she needed to run,” Cassie Goldstein mentioned.
They each ran, subsequent to one another, however her mom was shot within the chest and fell, Cassie Goldstein mentioned.
“I knew she was useless,” Cassie Goldstein mentioned. I “simply informed her that I beloved her, however I couldn’t cease, as a result of he was nonetheless taking pictures everybody subsequent to me. So, I simply stored operating, and I hid behind a trash can.”
When the taking pictures stopped, she went again to her mom.
Katie Goldstein had been mourning her mom’s current dying and needed to have some enjoyable when she determined to attend the vacation parade, Cassie Goldstein mentioned.
The day earlier than, they’d gone to the botanic gardens, obtained Dairy Queen and went to a film. On the day of the parade, “My mother was waving to the floats as they walked by,” Cassie Goldstein mentioned. “She was having a great time.”
“And I obtained to have 22 years with one of the best mother on the planet,” Cassie Goldstein mentioned. “I did every part together with her. She was my finest pal.”
Katie Goldstein’s husband, Craig, informed NBC Nightly Information, “I can’t consider what number of finest pals Katie has.”
“Katie was the kindest, gentlest particular person you’d ever meet.”
“She was actually selfless, and seemingly all the time upbeat,” he mentioned. “… She touched so many individuals in a constructive method,” he mentioned.
