Kayla Whitney

April 28, 1991 - March 14, 2022

Kayla was the loving and beloved daughter of Paul Whitney and Mary Perrone and dearest and loving big sister of Colin Whitney. Kayla will be sadly missed by her aunts, uncles and cousins. Kayla was bigger than life itself. She lived more in her 30 years than most people live in 100. Kayla was a relentless traveler. She lived the last five years in Colombia, teaching English while working on establishing a company which provided translating and editing services. Kayla was caring, loving, generous, and deeply empathetic. Extremely outgoing, she loved meeting new people of all cultures and backgrounds and making new friends. Educated at The Academy of the Sacred Heart, she was steeped in the knowledge that social awareness impels a person to action. That belief was reinforced at the University of Michigan through their Community Action and Social Change Minor program, which she embraced. Over her lifetime, Kayla volunteered at a school for special needs students at the Kennedy Center in Pontiac, served in the Best Buddies Friendship Program, which provides friendship to those with developmental disabilities, participated in the Camp Kesem program, which supports children whose parents are affected by cancer, made two trips to the Amazon with others from her school to deliver medical supplies and build a fresh water treatment facility. She lived with a family in Ghana while working at a school for special needs students. Rather than take a spring break, Kayla instead chose to volunteer at Misericordia Heart of Mercy in Chicago, which cares for children with developmental disabilities. She counseled children who had been incarcerated at the Washtenaw Detention Center. She worked as a teacher’s assistant at Northwood Preschool in Ann Arbor, a preschool that catered to the needs of children from immigrant families. She tutored students with learning disabilities at Community High School in Ann Arbor. Kayla also served as Vice President of the Bone Marrow Match program at U of M. In short, Kayla sought opportunities at every turn to serve others less fortunate and make the world a better place. Kayla will be missed by all those fortunate enough to have known and loved her. Friends and family will gather on Saturday, March 26 from 9 AM until the time of a 12:30 PM Memorial Service at the Wasik Funeral Home, Inc., 49150 Schoenherr Rd. (n. of 22 Mile Road) Shelby Township. Kayla's family has requested that in lieu of flowers, memorial donations addressed to the A.S.P.C.A. or The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society in her memory would be preferred.