Cloudy, 60° F
Shoes … there were many! Clothes … even more! Handbags … one in every color and size! Jewelry … Oh lord! Thank you notes … enough to last years! Time to spend with a beautiful woman … taken away much too soon!
Kris came into this world June 27, 1969, in Kabul, Afghanistan weighing 2 pounds 10 ounces. The world should have known then that she was a force to be reckoned with as she fought her way through living the first seven weeks of her life in an incubator and seven different nationalities of medical personnel dedicated to keeping her alive. During that time, she received Last Rites, but to herself she said, “Nope, I’m not ready. My family needs me, and I have too many people I want to meet and places I want to see.” We are so thankful for that fighting spirit!
Unbeknownst to Kris at such an early age, she needed money to afford all her treasured items, and that led her to her educational career. Kris split her elementary and middle/high school years between Lander, Wyoming and Powell, Wyoming, graduating from Powell High School in 1987. Go Panthers! Upon graduation, she attended Northwest Community College in Powell, Wyoming, where she was an RA and part of the Students Activity Committee. She had a wonderful time there, but she wasn’t done learning, so her next stop along her educational path was Laramie, Wyoming. She followed in her father’s footsteps obtaining both her undergraduate and master’s degrees and with honors. While those years were challenging because of her course load, she never wavered from reaching her goal. Again, that fighting spirit kicked in and she was proud of being a University of Wyoming alum. Go Pokes!
Kris’ degrees were in counseling, and she tried her hand at that career choice in Whitewater, Wisconsin, but it just wasn’t a good fit for her. She probably knew that working in that profession wouldn’t lend itself to building her shoes, clothes, handbags, jewelry and thank you notes collection. With that revelation, she relocated to Denver, Colorado, studied to become a paralegal, and that is where the fun began. Much of her paralegal career was spent at Benson & Case, and this is where she began her collection of treasured items. Thank you, Benson & Case, for funding her passion for the items that made her look as special on the outside as she was on the inside.
Kris’ parents moved to Billings, Montana, which is also where her sister, brother-in-law, and brother lived. She missed her family very much, so she made the move north to be with them and joined the law firm of Felt Martin Frazier & Weldon. She met some wonderful people at that firm and spoke of them highly just recently. However, her family knew she belonged in Denver, and we told her it was OK to move back, but as with everything else in her life, she had to make that decision on her own. That decision to move back to Denver was made in 2021, and it was the absolute right thing for her.
The last two years of Kris’ life were one of true happiness! She found her dream job at Messner Reeves, and we will forever be grateful to all of those who are a part of that firm for bringing a beautiful smile to her face every day. We are also thankful because she got to wear more of her treasured items, and she found great joy in doing that. The return to Denver also brought her back to her dearest friends, whom she missed greatly while in Billings. All of you were the light of her eyes, and the joy and happiness you brought to her was immeasurable. Her family will forever love all of you for bringing her into your inner circle and loving and helping her when we couldn’t. You are truly incredible people.
Outside of her “day job,” Kris wore many hats over the years. She loved movies, so she volunteered at the Denver Film Festival allowing her to chauffeur stars, directors and producers around town. That was always a highlight for her. For many years, she worked for Aramark counting monies from concessions at the various locations around Denver. Her favorite spots were the Pepsi Center, The Paramount and Red Rocks. The more she could see various sporting events, movies and concerts the happier Kris was, and Aramark was the perfect medium for her to enjoy those experiences. Aramark also contributed to her collection of treasured items, and for that she loved the extra money. In fact, she worked all the home games when the Colorado Rockies were in the World Series, which meant many long hours counting money. With that extra income, she purchased a beautiful ring which she called her “World Series” ring. She also became a victim advocate for both the City of Glendale Police Department and Arapahoe County Sheriff’s Office as she was truly passionate about helping those who found themselves in traumatic situations. There were several other hats Kris wore, but those three were the highlights of her time away from the office.
Regardless of Kris’ fighting spirit, her health issues became too much and in the early morning hours of Dec. 16, 2023, she quietly passed away in Centennial, Colorado, with her loving and ferocious 8-pound dog, Maggie, protecting her. She was taken much too soon and forever a big part of our hearts will be empty. Kris is survived by her mother, Bennie Lou, her sister and brother-in-law, Kim and Shaun Harrington, and her brother, Michael, and several relatives and dear friends. She was preceded in death by her father, Art Fabricius.
Kris’ memorial service will be held Saturday, Jan. 6, at 11 a.m. at Horan & McConaty, 5303 E. County Line Road, Centennial, Colorado, with a reception to follow. Kris loved animals, dogs in particular, and was a proponent of rescuing or adoption. In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to a local animal rescue group.
Kris … you will forever be greatly missed but your days now are forever shopping and adding to your collection of shoes, handbags, clothes, jewelry and thank you notes. Happy shopping and we love you dearly!
