Obituary of Kathleen Marie Wik

Kathleen Raynor Wik of Auburndale, Florida lost her cancer battle on Saturday, March 30, 2024. A fighter until the end, her final weeks saw her family near and far surrounding her with love.

Born on January 26, 1951, she grew up the third of seven children in Southampton, New York. After graduating Mercy High School in 1968, she moved up island and attended Mount Saint Mary College. However, in September 1970, she met the love of her life, Raphael (Ray) John Wik, III when they both attended a mutual friends’ wedding. They were engaged a week later.

Ray and Kathie married in June 1971 and bought their first house in the town she grew up in, right down the road from her parents. She welcomed their first daughter, Elizabeth (Beth) in May 1973. A couple of years later, the Wik family made their way across the Long Island Sound to Southeastern Connecticut, where they then welcomed their second daughter, Carol, in 1978.

Oakdale, Connecticut was the setting for the Wiks to raise their girls. Having lived there for over 17 years, they then followed. the sunshine south to Florida in 1996. They first staked ground in Bradenton where she and her husband were members of the Manatee Sail & Power Squadron and where she met many of her closest friends. Eventually they moved to Parrish before settling in Auburndale.

Kathie is survived by her loving husband of over 52 years, Ray, and their two daughters, Beth Wik of Simsbury, Connecticut and Carol Wik of Winter Garden, Florida.  Additionally, she leaves behind five siblings, three of whom continue to live in Southampton, New York: Joe (Sandy) Raynor, David (Sharon) Raynor and her “forever birthday twin,” Michael (BettyAnn) Raynor; as well as her sisters Debbie Raynor Schultz (John) of Bremerton, Washington; and Barbara Raynor of Wilmington, North Carolina. She had been pre-deceased by her sister Peggy Raynor; as well as her parents, Marie (Holly) and Evremonde (Pete) Raynor. She also leaves many (!) nieces and nephews, all of whom she adored.

Most notably, Kathie was the proud grandmother of her only grandchild, Ava Kathleen Hyland of Simsbury, Connecticut. Kathie never let anyone forget what her granddaughter’s middle name was and for whom she was named.

A Celebration of Kathie’s life will be held 11:30am Tuesday, April 9^th at Kersey Funeral Home with a gathering beginning 10am at the funeral home.