SEATTLE — A 91-year-old woman who dedicated nearly three decades of her life to feed and care for the homeless in Seattle has passed away.
Kay Abe was known for leading “The Lord’s Table," a community service project, since the early 1990s.
For four nights a week, she and other volunteers served hot meals to the homeless community underneath I-5 in downtown Seattle.
Abe passed away six days after suffering a heart attack serving one of those meals on the night of June 20.
“Here’s a person who wants to show faith by simply going out and doing,” said Craig Kobayashi, Abe’s friend and fellow volunteer. “Kay served everyone came. It didn’t matter who you were, what you looked like or believed in, where you came from or why you were there.”
Daniel Johnson said he met Abe during a difficult time in his life, and Abe helped encourage him to pursue a brighter future.
“I would say that Kay had been like second mom to me,” said Johnson. “It’s a huge loss to my heart and also a huge loss in the community, her passing.”
Johnson said Abe never wanted publicity for her work, even though she has received a number of awards, including the Jefferson Award for Community Service in 2005.
He said she just wanted to help others because the need is out there.
“I think people will step up and see her vision and see that this continues. The Lord’s Table doesn’t have to end because Kay Abe has moved on,” said Johnson
Abe leaves behind four children and four grandchildren.
They are planning a private burial with family and close friends, which is what she wanted.
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