Kay Janet Carstens

Kay Janet Carstens, 81, of Maynard, Massachusetts, passed away in the home of her niece, Elizabeth Peters, her husband, Jamie Peters, and their son, Thomas Peters in Lecompton, Kansas, in the early morning of July 15, 2022. She passed peacefully with family and her cat, Sissy, by her side. Kay was a beloved daughter, sister, aunt, and great aunt. She was born June 27, 1941, in Detroit, Michigan, to Arthur W. and Ethel Carstens. With courage, Kay fought a tough battle with Alzheimer’s and other medical issues most recently.
Kay is predeceased by her younger sister, Carole Diana Boulton; father and mother, Arthur and Ethel Carstens; and great niece, Kate Elizabeth Boulton.
Kay is survived by her brother-in-law, John Berry Boulton; nieces: Elizabeth (Jamie Peters), Sarah-Sally, Lisa, Hannah, Maggie; nephews: Mathew (Tammy), Michael (Laura), Jonathan (India), Christopher, Rane, Joshua; and great nieces and nephews: Madison, Drew, Emma, Jane, Jack, Sarah, Thomas, Austin, Aiden, Henry, and Chase.
As children, Kay and Carole excelled in school at Flint and Eaton Rapids, Michigan schools, and both attended Michigan State University, where Kay graduated with bachelor’s and master’s degrees. Kay first spent time in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado working as an editor before moving east to Massachusetts to follow her interest in publishing. She enjoyed many years as a writer and editor. Kay enjoyed and took pride in her work with the New England Journal of Medicine at the Mass Medical Society. She also free-lanced as a writer for many travel publications. Her medical interests led her to teach courses in medical terminology at Bunker Hill Community College.
Kay adored her baby sister, Carole, and much like her younger sister, opened up her heart to the big, adopted family of nieces and nephews her sister Carole and husband John grew. Christmas holidays were Kay’s absolute favorite, and she joined her sister’s family at most every holiday season. She adored gift giving and receiving, and her smile brightened the room on Christmas mornings. Kay loved her sister Carole’s cooking and was always caught sampling long before mealtime but always with a smile and a thank you. If Kay was not in view while visiting friends and family, she could be found cozied up in bed or on a big chair fireside with a good book and a snack, as she was an avid reader. Besides her love of books, she was an outdoorswoman to the core. She kayaked, hiked, cross-country skied, and gardened her way through life.
Kay was fully embraced by the vibrant community of women that became her East Coast family. She was always ready to enjoy an adventure or discuss a book with her book club, Bookwomyn, that she belonged to for over 30 years. She had too many friends to mention by name but spoke of each often and with great fondness. Kay loved when friends accompanied her on her hikes, skiing, and kayak trips down the river or to the lakeside. She was always generous with her time and treasures, participated in AIDS walks, helped sustain animal shelters near and far, and contributed joyfully to the local food pantries.
She was loved and welcomed wherever she went. As we bid farewell to Kay, many will remember her independent solid nature, strengths, and limitless love for her family, friends, animals, and books. We will cherish the memories that she has given us all. She will be forever missed.
A celebration of life will be held later and hosted by best friend Lois Tetreault in Maynard, Massachusetts.
A Little Free Library will be placed in her honor. In lieu of flowers and in honor of the warm-hearted woman Kay was, please contribute to Open Table Food Pantry in Maynard, Massachusetts, or Baypath Humane Society in Hopkinton, Massachusets.