Remember Kate Spade for the Beautiful Life She Lived
- Amanda
- Jun 6, 2018
- 3 min read

The day was half way through when a colleague announced the title of an article she read on Facebook:
"Kate Spade Found Dead in Apparent Suicide"
It had been only weeks after the buzz about Thirteen Reasons Why, and months after Avicii's suicide. I wasn't prepared mentally for the sinking of my stomach, racing heart, and laser sharp focus of every word spoken by those around me, some knowing and most unknowing on how it all affected me.
I clicked on the first article online. I found myself fuming with rage as I read through two paragraphs of content on how she was found, the granularity of the detail, and not a sentence to remind the readers of the various outlets of support for those that find themselves in a mental health crisis.
I tried my very best to ignore the amount of shares, the likes, and discussion of the means Kate chose to end her life. But that was easier said than done.
I find myself torn in the middle of having a loss for words, and needing to scream. But there is too much to be said to stay quiet.
To Everyone:
Kate Spade is a role model and icon. She started her career with a one way ticket to New York, and assistant level job offer, and not enough money to find her way back home. She persevered through hardship after hardship and built one of the most successful hand bag companies in the world. She was a daughter, a wife, a mother, and a friend.
Memorialize Kate for the legacy she built, and the bad-ass woman she was. Do not minimize her to the means by which she ended her life.
If you want to post about her, post a picture of your favorite Kate Spade handbag. Share her How I Built This podcast. Post the number of the suicide prevention hotline.
You have the power to turn the tables on the way the media is covering the news of her death. You have a voice that can teach others to do the same.
Talk about it with your friends and families, but be mindful of what you choose to say. If your opinions and words condemn the action Kate took, you run the risk of hurting those who are suffering. Your shame may take away the confidence of those who desperately want to start a progressive conversation on mental illness.
Your opinions, your words, and your actions have impact.
To Andy Spade
No words can describe the level of sorrow I feel for you and your daughter. The person who shared the details of your wife's passing with the media stole the most intimate moment of your family's life, there is no right to a wrong this severe.
I pray that you ignore the words of the ignorant, and be humbled by the wise.
I pray that you remain strong through the hardships to come, and be an example grace to your daughter.
I pray that you find the silver lining at the end of this dark and narrow tunnel and learn to live, laugh, and love again.
I pray that you find the power within yourself to advocate for mental illness and become the voice for those that are not loud enough to be heard.
Have hope. Better days will come again.
To Kate
You are the culmination of every quality I aspire to possess. You lived a beautiful life and inspired so many along the way.
Rest peacefully in Heaven.
Remember to visit your daughter often.
Tell my sister that I love her and miss her.
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