Kimberly Ann Pallo

We are heartbroken to share that Kimberly Ann Pallo, known as KP or Kimmy to her closest friends, passed away at home with her sister by her bedside on Thursday, December 12, 2024, of natural causes. She was 56.

Shortly after her birth on August 16, 1968, Kimberly was diagnosed with Prader Willie Syndrome and hydrocephalus, a severe cognitive disability. Medical experts predicted she'd never see her 13th birthday. 56 years later, it's safe to say that she defied every medical expectation by living a storied life of passion, meaning, and unconditional love. Everyone who met Kimmy was indelibly touched by her witty one-liners, enormous smile, and warm embrace. Kimmy was emotionally brilliant. She had an uncanny ability to read a room and a person's emotions, knowing how to lift a friend or stranger's spirits when they needed it the most.

Kimmy was raised in Austintown by her father, Eddie Pallo. She inherited his infectious wit and competitive nature. As a student-athlete at Leonard Kirtz, Kimmy was a medal-winning Special Olympian in swimming, bowling, and track.

Kimmy's best friend and most incredible mentor and advocate was her older sister, Barbie. From Barbie, Kimmy adopted a deep passion for art and music, as well as a fierce sense of loyalty and self-expression. They were inseparable.

Kimmy also loved spending time with family and friends while never wanting the party to end. Growing up, she was very close to her cousin Billy Peake, with whom she loved to swim, play basketball, and talk smack (lovingly, of course).

In 2015, Kimmy and her father moved to Columbus to live with Barbie and her husband, the newlyweds of only nine months. Two months later her father passed away and Barbie gained successor guardianship. Under her sister Barbie's care, Kimmy thrived in her day program All R Friends where she excelled in art, singing and social outings. She blossomed into a confident, beautiful, fun-loving "fashionista" who never met a mirror she didn't love. She enjoyed accompanying Barbie to work events at Dupler Office, where Kimmy was an honorary colleague. Kimmy especially treasured the companionship of her brother-in-law, Eric [aka. Hector]. The new tri-pack family unit all had nicknames so Kimmy soon became "KP"and the rest is history.

KP was a professional wrestling super fan. She loved dogs. Her Miss Piggy impersonation would've impressed Jim Henson and Frank Oz. She could recall and sing songs from the last 50 years of popular music like a human jukebox. But her greatest gift was love. She loved her family and friends without boundaries. She loved her life. She only asked for a smile and a hug in return.

Kimmy is preceded in heaven by: her father, Eddie Pallo; her mother, Joanne Bejzak; and both sets of grandparents and many family members and friends all waiting to welcome her to heaven.

We will miss KP dearly but will forever celebrate her enormous spirit and legacy of love. A celebration of life is being planned for 2025.