July 20, 1994 – July 15, 2020
Free-spirited, independent, unpredictable, playful, and affectionate—almost from the day she was born, Paige Elaine Kanak displayed a passion for life, heartfelt warmth and sensitivity, empathy for others, and a delightful penchant for the unexpected. Fair-skinned with straight, blonde hair and brilliant blue eyes, she was an enchanting little girl with personality-plus—an energetic, spunky little clown with a delightful habit of catching her family off-guard and making them laugh!
As a toddler and preschooler, Paige was lovingly cared for by her Mimi and Aunt Debby, so it’s no surprise she adopted their sense of style and flair for the dramatic! She loved draping herself in Mimi’s jewelry, prancing around in Aunt Debby’s fur coat and cowboy boots, or donning big brother Blake’s baseball cap, glove, and spikes. If none of those were handy, she was just as likely to throw a mop-top on her head, if that’s what it took to get a smile and a hug.
A proud Bee Cave Bobcat, Paige attended Bee Cave Elementary School and was a member of the school’s first graduating class. In 3rd grade, she was so proud to be the only girl to receive the Presidential Physical Fitness Award. She moved on to Lake Travis Middle School, where she was honored with the Chivalry Award, given by 8th grade teachers and the school principal to select students who exemplified “the characteristics of honesty, responsibility, compassion, perseverance, loyalty, justice, self-reliance, self-discipline, and integrity in academic and social pursuits.”
Paige was an accomplished student athlete. Having excelled at gymnastics in grade school, her physical education teacher encouraged her to play volleyball in 7th grade. She made the B-team and discovered she loved the sport. Paige was fast, strong, and could really jump and hit the ball hard. She continued playing throughout middle school and high school. Paige graduated from Lake Travis High School in 2012.
Paige was a gentle soul who loved animals, especially her black Lab-border collie mix, Shiloh, who was her constant companion. Her affection for furry friends of all sizes and shapes led her to work as a lead ranch hand at A to Z Dog Ranch in her hometown of Spicewood, Texas—a job she adored and into which she poured her heart and soul. In every job she held, Paige worked hard, was responsible and organized, and exhibited a strong sense of right and wrong. Paige simply could not abide anyone whose ethics she felt were misplaced.
Paige adored her big brother, Blake. Growing up in the country, they were each other’s constant playmates. As youngsters, they went bowling and swimming together, rode skateboards, played basketball on the driveway, and shared all the other typical kid activities. They loved summers in Port Aransas, swimming in the surf at Pioneer Beach and spending nights in the family RV. Blake whooped for Paige at her volleyball games, and she cheered him on at his baseball tournaments. And as they grew older, they became best friends and confidantes. Paige always knew she could count on Blake for anything she ever needed. In what would be their last outing together, Blake asked Paige to go with him to pick out a new car. They had a fabulous time, joking and cutting up with the saleswoman, full of excitement for the future.
As she grew older, Paige found joy and purpose in the simple things in life. She was smart and creative, a good writer, loved to macramé, and expertly tie-dyed t-shirts. She loved to go shopping and bargain-hunting with her Mom, usually topping off their shopping trips with lunch at Luby’s. She loved YouTube videos, decorating her room, and repairing things. Among her favorite foods were fettuccine from Olive Garden, chile con queso from La Cabana, and ice cream with whipped cream on top, which she never failed to share with her dog, Shiloh.
An unusually industrious, motivated young woman, Paige started working when she was only 16. She simply wasn’t happy unless she was busy. She was generous, thoughtful, and caring. Emblematic of her beautiful spirit, she found great pleasure and reward in helping others. As a girl, Paige was a Brownie and a Girl Scout. Sherry remembers Paige always wanted to stop on the side of the road and give boxes of the cookies (which they were supposed to be selling) to homeless people and others who were down on their luck.
For the last few years of her life, Paige lived at home with her parents, and they are so grateful for that time spent with her. Paige loved to cook with her Dad and insisted he teach her to make all his favorite recipes. She shared his unusual sense of humor and giggled at his jokes, which she often had to explain to her Mom. Paige pampered her parents, painting her Mom’s nails and indulging Sherry and Randy with home-baked banana-nut and blueberry muffins and other treats. She loved to clean and organize, keeping her room and the whole house immaculate. She patiently helped her technologically challenged Mom with her computer and phone. And she gave the best hugs! Sherry says Paige never said goodbye, on the phone or in person, without adding, “I love you.”
Those years together blessed Paige and her parents with an unusually strong bond. Randy worked from home, and Sherry had retired from her many years as a school librarian, so they were able to spend an abundance of precious time together. As a result, their relationships strengthened and grew in ways that often take decades. In hindsight, it was as if God knew their time together was growing short and gave them a lovely gift. The family meals; the shared daily experiences; the laughter; the memorable talks, both light-hearted and earnest; and the simple peace of going to bed knowing their little girl was safely at home, sleeping under their roof—these are memories Sherry and Randy will cherish forever.
At the time of her death, Paige had blossomed into a beautiful young woman. She was in the process of becoming her true self and discovering what she wanted to do in life. While she had once contemplated working in veterinary medicine, her focus had shifted to becoming a medical technician. She had been accepted by the Austin Medical Assistant School and was set to begin classes within days.
Page died only days before her 26th birthday. Always pragmatic, she had wanted to skydive with her Dad, but asked her parents, instead, to pay to have her tooth crowned. Unbeknownst to her, Sherry and Randy were going to surprise her with that skydiving trip, anyway . . . but it wasn’t to be.
Not surprisingly, Paige was an organ donor. Her final, loving act was giving the ultimate gift of life to eight individuals she had never even met. One of them will see through her beautiful eyes. All of them will live longer, healthier lives and have more time to spend with their families, a gift Paige was denied.
Paige is survived by her mother and father, Sherry Crow Kanak and Randolph Carl Kanak; brother, Blake Elliott Kanak; aunt, uncle and godparents, Debby Crow Jenson and Richard Allan Jenson; great aunt and uncle, Karen and Jack Shriver; first cousins, Jackie and Jeff Connors, and Sean Shriver; second cousins, Jarod and Jason Connors; grandmother, Evelyn Kanak (“Granny”); aunt and uncle, Sharon and Steve Barnes; cousin, Kyle Troxell, and wife, Jessica; aunt and uncle, Karen and Brian Replogle; cousins, Dustin, Lauren and Reese Replogle.
She was preceded in death by her beloved grandmother, Peggy Elaine Crow (“Mimi”) and great-grandmother, Lillian Mae Wilkerson (“Grand-Mimi”).
In lieu of flowers, the family would appreciate gifts in Paige’s memory to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) at secure.aspca.org/donate/memorial.
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