Kay Bays Ficzko

Kay Bays Ficzko
Mrs. Ficzko, 54, Charlotte, died peacefully at home on October 3, 2011. Born October 7, 1956 in Fredericksburg, Virginia, Kay is the loving daughter of Fred Ivol and Charlotte Maxine Bays.
Visitation will be Saturday, October 15, 2011 from Noon - 2:00 p.m., and the funeral will be the same day beginning at 2:00 p.m. at Heritage Funeral Home, 3700 Forest Lawn Drive, Matthews, NC 28104. Burial will follow immediately afterward at Forest Lawn East Cemetery directly across the street. Friends are welcome to join us after the burial for a reception at the funeral home.
Kay grew up in Virginia as the only child of Fred and 'Maxine' Bays. Following High School she attended the University of Virginia (UVA) where she obtained a Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing. It was at UVA that Kay met the love of her life, Robert 'Bob' Ficzko, Jr. They recently celebrated their 32nd wedding anniversary on September 22nd. Kay was a compassionate, generous and very loving individual who made friends wherever she went. To Kay, a stranger was just a friend she hadn't yet met.
Kay worked over 30 years in the Carolinas Health Care System. She began her career in 1979 at what was then called Charlotte Memorial Hospital as a staff nurse and later as an Assistant Head Nurse. In 1981 she transferred to Mercy Hospital as a Head Nurse. After several years, Kay transitioned into a supervisory position at Mercy Home Care in 1995. Then in 1998, Kay acted as a uniting catalyst during the merger of Mercy Home Care into Carolinas Home Care. Her most recent position at CMC was Director of Clinical Services of Healthy@Home - Charlotte. Kay endeavored to be the very best at everything she set out to accomplish. Throughout her professional career, Kay received many awards, but the highlight came in 2005 when she received the Pinnacle Award, presented to only the best of the best employees of Carolinas Health Care System. Kay was not only a teacher of her profession, she was also a mentor to all. She always tried to bring out the very best in everyone she met. Kay was deeply touched when her staff at Healthy@Home created a team for the Susan G Komen Race for the Cure and named it Kay's Miracle Walkers in her honor.
Kay was a planner, she loved to travel to the beach with her husband and plan annual trips to Las Vegas for the two of them. She loved cats, especially her own, Misty who will miss her greatly.
In addition to her husband Bob, Kay is survived by both her parents, her sister-in-law Regina Schwader and husband Robert and their two children Kathryn and Kristina, her God-Children Brian Burleson and Lori Elizabeth Burleson, along with her aunt Marian Vayda and other extended family.
In lieu of flowers, the family is requesting memorial contributions be made to the Humane Society of Charlotte, 2700 Toomey Avenue, Charlotte, NC 28203, or to Hospice & Palliative Care - Charlotte Region, 1420 East Seventh Street, Charlotte, NC 28204.
The Ficzko family is in the care of Heritage Funeral Home - Weddington Chapel. Online condolences may be left at www.heritagefuneral.net.