Love doesn’t go away easily - it stays.
Obituary
After a short but intense battle with a rare cancer, Lydia Elizabeth Lawlor passed away at the age of 31 on December 16, 2025 at The University of Kansas Medical Center, just across the state line from her lovely Midtown apartment in Kansas City, MO. In her final weeks and days, she spent beautiful and meaningful time with family, friends, and loved ones; she frequently expressed her immense gratitude for the supportive love she received.
Openness, intelligence, a strange (but captivating) sense of humor, a strong commitment to live according to her values, and both a scientific and empathetic curiosity all describe who Lydia was. She loved her large family fiercely and was always at the center of fun and play during gatherings. Though she joked that she was a personality hire at work, her combination of traits actually made her excel, and won esteem and affection from many colleagues. Driven by her curious nature, Lydia loved insects, crunchy-looking geodes and gemstones, her time in a high school science-based 'secret society,' birds (defending the beauty of pigeons across the globe), and making a spreadsheet to track data on literally anything and everything. She also loved a substantial sock, nearly every cat, consuming an array of various drink types over the course of one day, and had a long-standing obsession with keys, locks, and unique doors. A frank personal transparency implied an underlying confident sense of self; a confidence that bloomed as she chose challenging paths of self-discovery. As she grew to know herself, she made space for others to do the same. The sharp wit and insight that might tease a friend was also used to encourage them to make bold moves that would enrich their own lives. Her magnetic personality drew friends and strangers alike, and it was not uncommon to hear Lydia mention in passing that a random person disclosed their life’s story to her. Everyone just loved her, often instantly.
Lydia’s life was defined by community. After finishing her education at Olathe North High School and a bachelor’s degree at Kansas State University, she was particularly intentional about continuing to maintain and build social bonds, both one-on-one and as a glue binding groups of people. Hard to imagine many other younger millennials not afraid of a phone call, even a handwritten letter. You would rarely find her home; she’d be just as likely throwing pottery with clay studio friends, attending board game nights, wandering the Nelson Atkins museum, having a cute drink or coffee on a patio at the chicest of local spots, meeting with her D&D group, antiquing, or volunteering time with the local tenants union. Always on the lookout for a new hobby or skill, she developed a regular focaccia habit and marveled that her many plants often survived. And she recently took up crocheting to hand-create baby gifts for the brand new tiny humans in her life: Ava, Vivi, Henry. To chase away the winter blues, she hosted a weekly soup night for friends during cold months and invited them to bring their favorite crafts along. However, you probably couldn’t count on her to recreate a dish; she made them up on the spot, used whatever she had on hand to feed the ones she cared for. Just like Lydia, they were unreplicable delights inspired by love for others.
An avid traveler, she regularly surprised you with a new scheme of where she’d head next. Twenty-two countries had already been visited; she was captivated by hiking and nature the most, saying that many big cities ended up seeming pretty similar. But more than where or how often, who traveled with her meant the most, a wide circle of friends and family. Returning home was always made so sweet by the devoted welcome of her cat Caterpillar (and recent addition to the family, adorable kitten Misu). And by the particularly beloved people she lived with through the years: dear friends Madeline Byrd, Ramie Taylor, Theresa Collins, and her sister Maggie.
All who knew and loved her will profoundly mourn the loss of the shared life she should have had with them. But the difficult last months served to illuminate such incredible depths of feeling, strengthened by a life of countless hours of joy, passing time, exploring, loving, growing and becoming with her loved ones. Her loss is felt so intensely because she loved us and life so completely.
Lydia was preceded in death by grandparents David Lawlor, Vivienne Lawlor (Day), Dean Smith; uncle Gerald Lawlor; sister-in-law Christina Lawlor (Giffin). Lydia is survived by her parents Ron and Sherry Lawlor (Smith); grandmother Carol Smith (Williams); siblings Chris (father to her niece Katie), Sara, Josh, Joe, Sam and his wife Amanda (with baby niece Vivienne), Tom and his wife Nicole (with baby niece Ava), and Maggie. So many dear extended family members - aunts, uncles, cousins - and her cherished community of friends, both the nearest and those flung across the world, grieve deeply alongside the immediate family.
Parting Words
True to form, Lydia cared about her family, friends, and community until the end of her life. She chose to leave behind a final message to all of us, saying it could be printed or read aloud. At her memorial service on January 3rd, 2026, these words were delivered at the very end of the ceremony by one of her very dearest people, Ramie Taylor.
............
"They say that youth is wasted on the young, but I think that people only say that because the young have no money to do anything. The good news is, I started doing things well before I had the money or business to do them.
I would never tell you how to grieve, but know that I am not grieving the life that I did live. I had adventure, I saw incredible beauty all around the world, I ate amazing food, I had the best people by my side, and I had love to fill 1,000 lifetimes.
There’s nothing quite like dying to make you consider your life choices - Of course I would love to live more life with all of you, but the life I have lived was so good. So when you remember me, please remember the laughter, the love, the creativity. Remember the times we grieved together, the struggles, but the resilience - the hard times that never did seem to last as long as the good times, but made them all the more sweet.
The clichés about dying are true. People do not tend to regret the things that they do, they tend to regret the things that they do not. So if I can encourage anyone in this, I’ll say: do the thing. Hang out with your friends after work on the weekdays. Host 100 dinner parties. Do the thing that seems scary, and remember that excitement often feels the same as fear. And if it seems like something I would like to do, take me with you in your memory (if I wouldn’t like it, leave my memory at home - I don’t want to go mountain biking).
Love doesn’t go away easily - it stays. And I was made up of all of the ways that you all loved me, just like I hope my love for you makes up parts of you. And in that, we are never apart. Thank you for being the lights in my life that made it so good. I love you."
- Lydia
............
Gallery
Memory wall
Lydia texted me once "I love a sunset but man I loveeee a sunrise "
I hope she is in the land of never-ending sunrises now.
Sitting next to your empty desk is going to suck. Not hearing your “sssupp” in the morning is going to suck. And I most definitely have to find a new ramen shop I like.
Going to miss you friend.
Lydia was one in a million. We are all lucky to have known and be known by her.
“The name of the LORD is a strong tower; the righteous man runs into it and is safe.” (Proverbs 18:10, ESV)
Lydia had a remarkable gift for listening to and understanding both the business and technical sides of any project, always making sure everyone involved felt heard and included. Some of my favorite memories are the breaks and lunches we shared, where she would light up the conversation with stories of her solo camping adventures in the forest. Her love for nature was inspiring.
She often helped me bridge the generational gap, patiently explaining Millennial jargon since she and my daughter were close in age. I will miss her laughter, her radiant smile, and the way she made even ordinary days special. My thoughts and prayers are with Lydia’s family. I will miss her dearly.
She had this rare kind of energy that lit up every room she walked into. She was smart, compassionate, and endlessly positive, the kind of person who made even the heaviest days feel lighter. Being able to call her my friend was an honor, and I'm heartbroken knowing that there are people who will never have the privilege of experiencing the kindness, laughter, and genuine warmth she carried so easily.
Lydia made life feel brighter just by being in it. She was amazing, truly and deeply amazing, and I will miss her more than words can express. I am so incredibly sad she's gone, but l'm grateful for every moment I got to share with her - every conversation, every smile, every memory that now feels like a gift.
Rest in peace, Lydia. Thank you for being you, and for leaving so much love and light behind.
Ron, we met years ago and you ended the conversation with something that I've taken with me to this day: "Good Luck on your Journey". I'm so very sorry that Lydia's journey was cut short. I hope you all can take some solace in knowing you raised an incredible human. Peace be with you.
I pray the Lord‘s nearness and comfort for all your family through your suffering and grief 💗
Lydia had a way of giving people like me courage and making us feel heard and valued. Her support meant more than she probably knew, and I will always be grateful for the thoughtful and impactful feedback she once shared with my manager, and I will always cherish her kind words to me.
She will be deeply missed, and her presence will continue to live on in the many lives she touched. My heartfelt thoughts and prayers are with her family and loved ones.
I feel incredibly fortunate to have worked with her from the very first day she joined Tapestry from the TOPS team. From day one, her impact was immediate and lasting. She played a crucial role in Tapestry validation, and many of our flawless deployments happened because of her constant support, care, and attention to detail.
When she later stepped into the role of Product Manager for Tapestry, she became the person I relied on the most. For every initiative, every challenge, and every decision, she was my first point of trust. The successful journey of Tapestry is, in so many ways, a reflection of her leadership, dedication, and exceptional communication.
Beyond her professional excellence, she was a genuinely kind and inspiring person. Working with her was a privilege, and knowing her was a gift. She has left a lasting impact on my life and on everyone who had the honor of working alongside her. She will always be remembered and deeply missed.
Her professionalism, insight, and collaborative spirit left a lasting impression. My heartfelt condolences to her family, friends, and colleagues. She will be deeply missed.
Service
Français
Deutsch
Nederlands
Español
Português
Magyar
Русский
繁體中文