Obituary for Lucia Kempe
Lucia Kempe passed away on December 27th, 2021, after being diagnosed with and battling a rare genetic condition over the past two years. Her strength, grace, and courage during an inexplicably hard two years of illness made a lasting impression on all who knew her.
Lucia was incredibly vibrant, kind, and resilient. She loved her family above all else, supporting them through all of life’s challenges and celebrating with them during many happy moments. Her international, and especially Italian, heritage was of the utmost importance to her and shaped her daily life. She spoke four languages, and travel to new and beloved places with family and friends brought her joy and her best memories. She loved animals, especially cats and dogs, a trait she has passed on to her children. Her genuine beauty, loyalty, selflessness, compassion, and love of laughter will never be forgotten.
Lucia is survived by her husband of 33 years, Heinz-Peter Kempe, her children, Anika, Stefan, and Antonia, her son-in-law, Patt Eagan, her parents, Alberto and Clara Imarisio, her siblings, Patricia Munster and Valerio Imarisio, her niece, Eline Munster, her sisters-in-law, Irmtraud Kirsch and Karen Imarisio, her brothers-in-law, Jörg Kirsch and Henry Munster, and extended family throughout Germany, Austria, and Italy.
Lucia was the youngest of the three Imarisio children and was born on September 18th, 1968, in White Plains, New York. Soon after, she and her family moved to Bloomfield Hills, Michigan. There she attended and graduated from Oakland University and met her husband, Heinz-Peter. They were married on March 22nd, 1988. Their daughter Anika Ida was born on August 30st, 1991. They moved to Mercersburg, Pennsylvania, in August of 1994. Their son Stefan Heinrich was born on September 2nd, 1994, and their daughter Antonia Elise on January 25th, 2000. Lucia became a beloved member of both the Mercersburg Academy and Mercersburg communities, teaching and impacting the lives of countless families’ children at the Mercersburg Area Preschool, where she worked from 2003 through 2019.
Lucia and her legacy will be honored during a private family celebration. They would like to extend their sincere gratitude to Dr. Paul Hassoun, Director of the Pulmonary Hypertension Program at Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore, MD. His dedication to and respect for Lucia should be the gold standard for health care professionals everywhere. The Kempe family would also like to thank friends and loved ones for all the support they and Lucia have received.
The family requests that no cards or flowers are sent. Instead, please consider:
- A gift to the Mercersburg Area Preschool in memory of Lucia (http://www.mercersburgareapreschool.org/donate.html)
- A gift to the Lucia Kempe Memorial Fund at the Mercersburg Academy. Please select “Tribute Gift” and note her full name in the “In Memory of” section when donating at https://www.mercersburg.edu/make-gift. If seeking to making a large gift, please contact Jenn Bradley at bradleyj@mercersburg.edu.
Lucia was incredibly vibrant, kind, and resilient. She loved her family above all else, supporting them through all of life’s challenges and celebrating with them during many happy moments. Her international, and especially Italian, heritage was of the utmost importance to her and shaped her daily life. She spoke four languages, and travel to new and beloved places with family and friends brought her joy and her best memories. She loved animals, especially cats and dogs, a trait she has passed on to her children. Her genuine beauty, loyalty, selflessness, compassion, and love of laughter will never be forgotten.
Lucia is survived by her husband of 33 years, Heinz-Peter Kempe, her children, Anika, Stefan, and Antonia, her son-in-law, Patt Eagan, her parents, Alberto and Clara Imarisio, her siblings, Patricia Munster and Valerio Imarisio, her niece, Eline Munster, her sisters-in-law, Irmtraud Kirsch and Karen Imarisio, her brothers-in-law, Jörg Kirsch and Henry Munster, and extended family throughout Germany, Austria, and Italy.
Lucia was the youngest of the three Imarisio children and was born on September 18th, 1968, in White Plains, New York. Soon after, she and her family moved to Bloomfield Hills, Michigan. There she attended and graduated from Oakland University and met her husband, Heinz-Peter. They were married on March 22nd, 1988. Their daughter Anika Ida was born on August 30st, 1991. They moved to Mercersburg, Pennsylvania, in August of 1994. Their son Stefan Heinrich was born on September 2nd, 1994, and their daughter Antonia Elise on January 25th, 2000. Lucia became a beloved member of both the Mercersburg Academy and Mercersburg communities, teaching and impacting the lives of countless families’ children at the Mercersburg Area Preschool, where she worked from 2003 through 2019.
Lucia and her legacy will be honored during a private family celebration. They would like to extend their sincere gratitude to Dr. Paul Hassoun, Director of the Pulmonary Hypertension Program at Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore, MD. His dedication to and respect for Lucia should be the gold standard for health care professionals everywhere. The Kempe family would also like to thank friends and loved ones for all the support they and Lucia have received.
The family requests that no cards or flowers are sent. Instead, please consider:
- A gift to the Mercersburg Area Preschool in memory of Lucia (http://www.mercersburgareapreschool.org/donate.html)
- A gift to the Lucia Kempe Memorial Fund at the Mercersburg Academy. Please select “Tribute Gift” and note her full name in the “In Memory of” section when donating at https://www.mercersburg.edu/make-gift. If seeking to making a large gift, please contact Jenn Bradley at bradleyj@mercersburg.edu.