Kay Ruth Tomczak, 88, passed away peacefully at the McClure Miller Respite House on October 2, 2025. She was a breast cancer warrior and stubbornly fought a long battle with metastatic breast cancer and lymphoma for 15 years. She will be dearly missed by all who knew and loved her.

Born in 1937, in Wyandotte, Michigan, she was the third of six children born to Howard and Ethel McMillan. Kay graduated from the University of Detroit Mercy Dental School as a Dental Hygienist in 1957.

Kay married James Joseph Tomczak on August 2, 1958, in Lincoln Park, Michigan. They moved to Burlington, Vermont in 1965 where they raised their 9 children. In their retirement years they moved to Colchester, and later to the Residence at Shelburne Bay where Kay reconnected with old friends and made many new ones.

Kay was a loving wife and mother. Her marriage of 66 years and her deep faith in a loving forgiving God gave her strength and joy which she shared with everyone she met. Kay's participation in the Catholic Cursillo movement strengthened her faith. In 1977 she helped form the Vermont chapter of Aglow International, a nondenominational Christian women's group, and traveled around the U.S. as a board member for many years. She was active in both Catholic & Christian prayer communities and bible studies.

Love, faith, and family were the foundation and strength of Kay's life, and she sought to help many individuals in need of comfort and shelter. Kay loved to create beauty and harmony: in relationships, in flowers & gardens, and by creating quilts for her ever-growing family. She was active in the Champlain Echoes Chorus, the local quilting community and enjoyed playing games with family and friends. She was a steadfast supporter of all her family members, attending sporting events and activities, and delighting in celebrating birthdays. To spend time with Kay was to feel unconditionally loved and accepted.

Kay was predeceased by her sisters Jeanne Cox and Carroll Woyjcik, her husband James, and two grandsons, James Currie and Roger Schafer, III. Kay is survived by her brothers: Ken (Marnie), Jim (Marianne), and Terry (Sandy) McMillan, and her children: Elizabeth (Roger) Schafer, Mary Susan (John) Currie, David (Patty), Andrew, Jennifer (Scott DuBois), Christine (Stephen) Horton, Kathleen (A.D.) Kent, Stephen, Natalie (Joel) Bradford, 21 grandchildren, 4 step-grandchildren, 16 great-grandchildren, 2 step-great-grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews.

The family would like to extend our deepest gratitude for care given to our mother in her final months: Dr. Anne Breña and staff members of the Residence at Shelburne Bay, Bayada Hospice, and the McClure Miller Respite House.

Visiting hours are from 3-5pm, on Sunday, October 12, at LaVigne Funeral Home, 132 Main St., Winooski. Funeral services will be held at Daybreak Community Church in Colchester on Monday, October 13, at 10:00am with a reception to follow. Burial will be at 2:00pm at Resurrection Park Cemetery in South Burlington. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Aspire Now (aspire-now.org) or Samaritan's Purse (samaritanspurse.org).