Vestry Profile - Ky Wolterbeek
I was raised in Jaffrey, NH in a small Congregational church with my parents who were both school teachers and five siblings. Going to Sunday school, singing in the choir and being part of a congregation was part of our life. During college and my early adult years I was not diligent about finding a new church until Elle Yarborough, my daughter, was about two and I was pregnant with our second child.
I visited a number of churches in the Somersworth/Dover area as we were living in Somersworth at that time. Elle was an adorable little two year old and I was always surprised that no one in the churches I visited hardly spoke to us. I could almost understand a less than enthusiastic welcome for me, but it has always seemed that children usually bring out a “hello” in a community.
The Sunday before Thanksgiving in 1982 I happened to go to the beautiful stone church on Hale Street. I had never been to an Episcopal church before and according to my mother, it "was too much like a catholic church". We grew up in a community with few worship choices - you were either Congregational or Catholic.
My life changed. Bob Ervin had a sermon that I was pretty sure was meant for me, the music was spectacular and the congregation entirely warm and friendly. Margie Ford was my first personal contact at St. Thomas with her welcome.
Thirty-eight years later I remain here having raised all nine of my children in this parish. The people of this parish have been my strength through ups and downs. Watching my children go through the passages of their lives with the love and support of the Episcopal faith, our parish family who have helped to lead them into their adulthood, and the devotion of Bob Ervin to know them personally kept our family coming to St. Thomas to spite moving to Wells, Maine where we could have moved to an Episcopal church five miles away.
I was a Sunday school teacher for 23 consecutive years. I am currently serving on Vestry for the second time as well as I am treasurer for the church. I have been involved on a number of committees from time to time, most notably our global outreach with the Safe Passage program.
Outside of church - I have been married to Jake, who was my high school sweetheart, for 45 years this August. My greatest joy in life is, and always has been, raising our wonderful nine children. We now are also blessed with eight grandchildren which I’m sure you can imagine are the loves of my life.
Jake & I had a seafood restaurant in Wells for 30 years which we sold two years ago. We are happily retired and finally spending more time with family in the summer! We had a small family farm (well, the kids and Jake would say it was mine) which we also sold and are now settled on a much smaller property in Kittery closer to all the people we love.
In addition to enjoying the time with my family I like to do a little traveling. I am very involved Safe Passage and taking the support trips to Guatemala. I sew for an organization called Dress-A-Girl which makes dresses for young girls in developing countries that are high risk children. And, I’m a huge Bruins fan!
I was raised in Jaffrey, NH in a small Congregational church with my parents who were both school teachers and five siblings. Going to Sunday school, singing in the choir and being part of a congregation was part of our life. During college and my early adult years I was not diligent about finding a new church until Elle Yarborough, my daughter, was about two and I was pregnant with our second child.
I visited a number of churches in the Somersworth/Dover area as we were living in Somersworth at that time. Elle was an adorable little two year old and I was always surprised that no one in the churches I visited hardly spoke to us. I could almost understand a less than enthusiastic welcome for me, but it has always seemed that children usually bring out a “hello” in a community.
The Sunday before Thanksgiving in 1982 I happened to go to the beautiful stone church on Hale Street. I had never been to an Episcopal church before and according to my mother, it "was too much like a catholic church". We grew up in a community with few worship choices - you were either Congregational or Catholic.
My life changed. Bob Ervin had a sermon that I was pretty sure was meant for me, the music was spectacular and the congregation entirely warm and friendly. Margie Ford was my first personal contact at St. Thomas with her welcome.
Thirty-eight years later I remain here having raised all nine of my children in this parish. The people of this parish have been my strength through ups and downs. Watching my children go through the passages of their lives with the love and support of the Episcopal faith, our parish family who have helped to lead them into their adulthood, and the devotion of Bob Ervin to know them personally kept our family coming to St. Thomas to spite moving to Wells, Maine where we could have moved to an Episcopal church five miles away.
I was a Sunday school teacher for 23 consecutive years. I am currently serving on Vestry for the second time as well as I am treasurer for the church. I have been involved on a number of committees from time to time, most notably our global outreach with the Safe Passage program.
Outside of church - I have been married to Jake, who was my high school sweetheart, for 45 years this August. My greatest joy in life is, and always has been, raising our wonderful nine children. We now are also blessed with eight grandchildren which I’m sure you can imagine are the loves of my life.
Jake & I had a seafood restaurant in Wells for 30 years which we sold two years ago. We are happily retired and finally spending more time with family in the summer! We had a small family farm (well, the kids and Jake would say it was mine) which we also sold and are now settled on a much smaller property in Kittery closer to all the people we love.
In addition to enjoying the time with my family I like to do a little traveling. I am very involved Safe Passage and taking the support trips to Guatemala. I sew for an organization called Dress-A-Girl which makes dresses for young girls in developing countries that are high risk children. And, I’m a huge Bruins fan!