A bubbly beauty therapist from Great Blakenham who died 12 days after being badly hurt in a car crash made people’s lives better, her heartbroken family have said.
Kimberley Everitt was driving home at around 9.15pm on October 21 when her car left Stowmarket Road in the village and crashed into a house, leaving her critically injured.
The 34-year-old spent 12 days fighting for her life in Addenbrooke’s Hospital’s critical care unit – and despite the best efforts of doctors and nurses, she died last Thursday in the early hours.
Now the former Claydon High School pupil’s devastated family – which includes identical twin sister Rebecca, brother Dominic, eldest brother Kelvin and father Richard – are leading tributes to her.
“Kim touched everyone she knew in some way or another, she made people’s lives better,” said Rebecca, who stayed at her sister’s bedside while she was in hospital.
“She loved being around people, and her cats Ronnie and Reggie who she called ‘her boys’.
“We were together all the time. She was very popular, and such a beautiful person.
“She always had time for everybody.
“Our Kim was bubbly, funny and always smiling. She was fun loving, always jolly and always making people laugh.
“She was just a joy to be around, everyone loved her.
“She fought to the very end, and was a strong person.”
The beauty therapist, who worked at a spa in Bury St Edmunds, grew up in Needham Market where she attended Bosmere Primary School.
When she left Claydon High School, she studied for an NVQ at a college in Ipswich.
Rebecca added: “At college she studied really hard and she was really enjoying her job.
“What makes it even harder is that everything was going right for Kim – she was happy, had a good group of friends and had a happy home.
“She was making plans for the future, it was her ambition to set up her own massage business.
“She loved fishing and was a big animal lover.
“Kim was just so beautiful, inside and out.”
Miss Everitt’s family said they want to thank the emergency services for their help on the night of the crash.
An air ambulance crew was sent to the scene alongside paramedics, a critical care doctor, several firefighters and police officers.
They said: “We would like to deeply thank the emergency services.
“The paramedics, ambulance staff, critical care doctors, nurses, the air ambulance, firefighters and the police.
“There were also some nurses that stopped to help Kim at the side of the road.
“We are so grateful for their help.
They added: “We’re saying thank you from Kimberley as well because it’s what she would have wanted.
“She was selfless and kind to the very end, and donated some of her organs, that’s just the kind of person she was.”
Tributes have poured in for the 34-year-old on social media, from friends and work colleagues to former school friends.
When news of her death was announced in a Facebook group set up by her family, several shared pictures of candles they had lit in memory of her.
Miss Everitt’s brother Dominic said: “The messages we have received, and the Facebook group we set up to remember her has given us some kind of comfort.
“On the night we announced her death lots of people sent us photos of candles they had lit for her.
“Nobody has had a bad word to say about her.”
Miss Everitt’s funeral will be held on Friday, November 24 at 2pm at St John the Baptist Church, Needham Market, followed by a burial at Needham Cemetery. A wake will then take place at The Three Tuns in the town.
More than £6,500 raised with crowdfunding page
Miss Everitt’s siblings set up a GoFundMe crowdfunding page to collect funds for her funeral.
Almost £7,000 has been raised – smashing their original £3,000 target – within a few days.
Left over cash will given to the air ambulance and the neurosciences critical care unit at Addenbrooke’s. Dominic said: “The GoFundMe page has exceeded our expectations.
“It is just incredible to know how much people loved her.
“We always knew she was a popular girl but this has overwhelmed us.”
While Rebecca added: “The doctors and nurses at Addenbrooke’s critical care unit were wonderful, just amazing and really tried to help Kim through.
“They stayed by her side through everything and supported her through those awful 12 days and nights.
“We want to say thank you in some way and this is how we are planning to do it.”
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