Remembering Sunshine: Fair Haven-Raised, RFH ’85 Grad, Kay Corson Zierold, 55

“One of the greatest, kindest, funniest, most loyal, honest, and definitely one of the loudest, stars has moved on …
Even the sun couldn’t stand to
face the day without her.”
Kitty McNally on her lifetime friend, Kay Corson Zierold

The sun looked for her. The horizon went dark. Its ball-of-fire compadre could no longer be found, shining, warming those close on Earth. That’s how the sudden death of one girl seemed to friends. That girl.

To childhood friends, she was that girl. That girl who laughed the loudest, the hardest. That girl who loved the deepest. That girl who had the best come-back, the best jokes. That girl who lit up the room, shining brightest, making the sun cower with a smile. That girl with whom the sun rose to play. That girl who was and always will be their very own sunshine.

That girl was Fair Haven-raised, Rumson-Fair Haven Regional High School (RFH) Class of ’85 graduate Kay Corson Zierold. She passed away suddenly on Jan. 5 at 55.

Since the jarring, dim news of her passing, those friends have been honoring the biggest of little things about that fiery girl whose presence in their lives they saw as a terminal gift of glow.

From the neighborhood, to school, through adulthood and full circle back, they remembered a Kay who was their girl. That girl. The one whose memory will keep them toasty, her rays drenching all, one at a time.

That girl from the neighborhood … “I grew up on a small street in Fair Haven, NJ alongside a curly-haired little girl who was just one month younger than I,” longtime friend and neighbor Anita Esser said. “Fifty five years later, we still have kept in touch. But this story is not just my own. Kay touched many, many people quite dearly and deeply through her friendship, love, and passion for her work … one of the greatest, kindest, funniest, most loyal, honest and, of course, loudest stars has moved on to her next adventure …”

That girl in a family …

“Kay had a larger-than-life personality and was willing to lend a helping hand to anyone … Kay enjoyed going to the beach, loved animals and baking. She will be remembered for her quick wit, great sense of humor and her one-liners. Kay loved people and always put others before herself and had the habit of giving a nickname to her loved ones and her beloved pets.”
Loved ones of Kay Corson Zierold in her obituary

That girl whose son was her own sunshine, forced to move “onto her next adventure without him” … her light lingering.

She shines on …

Kay’s light will be celebrated in late spring or early summer, family said in her obituary.

In the meantime, here’s more about Kay …

Born in Red Bank on Nov. 16, 1966, the daughter of A. Warren and Delores (Nowick) Corson, Kay received her bachelor’s degree in social work form St. Elizabeth University in Morristown.

Most recently living in Millsboro, DE, she was currently working for Connections there as a drug and alcohol counselor and was also involved the Sussex County Pregnancy Center in counseling as well. “Kay invested in her clients and would do anything to help them succeed in overcoming their addiction.”

She was preceded in death by her father, A. Warren Corson.

She is survived by: her mother, Dolores Corson, of Lewes, DE; a son, Noah W. Zierold, of Long Beach Township; three siblings, Karen Sandor of Laurel, MD, Kristine Arway of Millsboro, DE and Warren Corson and his wife Chona, of Bristow, VA; a godson, Zachary Grier of Sykesville, MD; and several nieces, nephews and great nephews.

While many Fair Haven and RFH friends cannot be there, visitation will be held from 2 to 3 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 13,at the Long Neck Chapel of Melson Funeral Services, Millsboro, DE, where a prayer service will begin at 3 p.m.. Interment will be held privately at Conley’s Cemetery in Lewes, DE.
A celebration of Kay’s life will be held in the late spring or early summer.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial contributions in Kay’s name to an organization that she loved, the Brandywine Valley SPCA, 22918 Dupont Blvd., Georgetown, DE 19947.

There is no charge for Tributes on R-FH Retro.
Support More like this with A Coffee Donation. CLIck.

** A GoFundMe fundraiser to assist Kay’s son, Noah, has been set up. Click here to donate. **