A Heart Too Good for This World: Remembering Tricia Ploessl”
I still remember the days when I first began working at KELC nearly twenty years ago—a time filled with nerves, uncertainty, and the hope of finding a friendly face. Tricia Ploessl was that face for so many of us. Even though we never worked inside the same classroom, her presence was unmistakable. Those who spoke her name always did so with warmth, admiration, and an unmistakable softness. She was known for being kind, welcoming, nurturing, and genuinely sweet in everything she did. Hearing the news of her passing has left a deep ache in my heart, the kind that settles heavy and refuses to lift.
A Gentle Spirit Who Touched More Lives Than She Ever Knew”
Tricia had a reputation that needed no introduction. Long before you met her, you heard stories of the way she moved through the world—with patience, empathy, and a calmness that seemed almost rare. She was the type of person who made you feel valued with a single conversation, the kind of colleague who listened without judgment and lifted others up without ever needing credit.
Even without sharing a classroom with her, I learned so much just by observing how others spoke about her. She was a steady presence, a comforting part of the school community, and someone who made the workplace feel less like a job and more like a second home. Losing someone like that—someone who embodied kindness so effortlessly—feels unbearably unfair.
When I heard of her passing, it didn’t feel real at first. Grief crept in slowly, settling in the quiet moments when memories of her came back—her gentle smile, her warmth, the way she made difficult days feel a little easier just by being herself. My heart breaks for her family, who are now navigating a world without the light she carried so naturally. They will remain in my thoughts during this painful time, and I hope they feel the love and support of everyone whose lives she touched.
A Heart That Will Be Missed Forever”
One of my former coworkers said it best: “Whoever got her heart got a good one.” Those words have stayed with me because they couldn’t be more true. Tricia lived with a heart full of goodness—one that radiated sincerity, compassion, and generosity.
Her passing is not just a loss for her family and friends, but for every person who ever had the privilege of knowing her. The kind of heart she had is rare, and losing it leaves an emptiness that can never truly be filled. But while she may no longer be here with us, the impact she made lives on in the memories, stories, and acts of kindness she left behind.