Ivy Marie Kirk

Ivy wanted to live, to be happy and fulfill her dreams, but during the dark evening hours of October 14, the illness and addiction that had stolen her sparkle took her life. Ivy was a beautiful, adventurous and free-spirited soul. She had a huge heart and deeply loved her family and friends. She is at peace now and will be greatly missed by everyone whose life she touched. We will always cherish the good memories and times spent together. She was born on November 7, 1982 in Frankfurt, Germany. Ivy was a year 2000 graduate of LaPlata High School in LaPlata, Maryland. Ivy held many interests over the years. She enjoyed music, dancing and participated in show troupe and en-pointe ballet. Sewing was a pastime that she had turned into a business making cloth diapers. She also enjoyed playing English Hand Bells alongside her mother at their church. To quote her sister, “Ivy was a badass knitter!” at one point even delving into dying her own yarns for her creations. But, Ivy found the most joy in her life when she was spending time with her boys, Leland Michael, Owen Joseph and Jaxon Charles Kirk all of White Plains, Maryland. They will miss her most of all but her spirit will be kept alive in their hearts. Family was important to Ivy and she had a large extended one with whom she was always happy to get the opportunity to spend time. Surviving are her mother, Beverly G. Tallmadge of Newburg, Maryland and father and stepmother, Joseph Sr. and Faith Melissa Tallmadge of Altoona, Pennsylvania; sister, Judith L. Brooks and her husband Jason of Rebersburg, Pennsylvania; brothers, Joseph Tallmadge, Jr. of Altoona, Pennsylvania and Tyler P. Tallmadge of Orono, Maine; grandfather, David Paul Bartlebaugh of Altoona, Pennsylvania; aunt, Norma J. Ward of Delran, New Jersey; uncles, John Bowden, Jr. of Haledon, New Jersey, Gary K. Bowden of La Plata, Maryland, David S. Bowden of Haledon, New Jersey, Charles Tallmadge, Jr. of Alabama, Tony Bartlebaugh and Timothy Bartlebaugh of Altoona, Pennsylvania, and Alan Ward of Delran, New Jersey; nephew, Miles W. Brooks of Rebersburg, Pennsylvania; and nieces, Clara M. Brooks and Elena T. Brooks of Rebersburg, Pennsylvania. Ivy also had many late family members who were waiting to welcome her into their heavenly arms and protection: grandfathers, John Bowden, Sr. and Charles C. Tallmadge, Sr.; grandmothers, Ruth E. Bowden, Ruth L. Tallmadge, and Sharon “Grandma Bunny” Bartlebaugh. Ivy strongly believed in second chances, maybe because she craved a second chance for herself. As such, she donated her life-saving organs to give someone else a second chance at life. As of this writing, there have been three lives affected by her selfless gift and we hope many more. Organ donation is an amazing gift, please consider giving the gift of life. It will provide a small sense of solace and pride to your surviving family as it has to ours. You can do so here, organdonor.gov In lieu of flowers donations are being accepted in Ivy’s memory at Washington Regional Transplant Community, 3190 Fairview Park Drive, Suite 700, Falls Church, VA. 22042. Please contact Joseph Tallmadge or any family member for information if you are interested in donating to the funds that will be deposited in an account for Ivy’s children. A service to honor Ivy’s memory will be held at 1pm on November 16, 2019 at Good Samaritan Presbyterian Church, 13025 Good Samaritan Drive, Waldorf, Maryland 20602. The family would like to encourage anyone attending the service to wear something pink in honor of Ivy as it was her favorite color.

Ivy Marie Kirk

November 7, 1982 - October 15, 2019