Kiya Liebling Osha

1996 - 2023

Kiya Liebling Osha
09/17/1996 - 11/08/2023
With heavy, broken hearts we have to share that our beloved daughter, sister, friend, Kiya Liebling Osha died by suicide on November 8, 2023. After a life-long struggle with debilitating depression, Kiya decided she had to let go. While we struggle to understand this decision – such crippling and paralyzing depression is thankfully foreign to most of us, we weep for the weight that she carried in her heart for so long.

Kiya fiercely loved her family, friends, partners and her cats. We know that she did everything in her power to be here with us for as long as she could. We're grateful for the light and love she shared with us despite the private war that waged inside her.

How someone who showed up with such joy, compassion and warmth for everyone around her was unable to give herself the same is unfathomable. We wish that she could have seen herself as those who loved her saw her - unbelievably kind, brave, brilliant, talented and worthy of unending love and happiness.

We will forever mourn her loss - we will have a Kiya-shaped hole in our hearts from this point onward - but we are determined to celebrate our good fortune in having her with us for 27 incredible years.

Any words will fall short in attempting to describe Kiya. She was one of those rare people who managed to be intellectually and personally brilliant in more ways than one can count. She was deeply feeling, empathetic, goofy, clever, generous, loving, and nurturing. She saw the best in people, especially children. Kiya was uniquely determined to make the world a better place. This was never more evident than when we were planning her 7th birthday party. It was her fervent request that instead of bringing her gifts, her friends make a donation to St. Jude's. From that point on, Kiya made a point of saving her allowance and gift money to send to St. Jude's along with notes of her love. She became such a regular contributor that St. Jude's called asking to speak to her not realizing that she was only 9!

Her heart overflowed with love throughout her life, such that at 17 years old, she got special permission to participate in a program that placed adults as volunteers in orphanages across Ghana. Despite never having been there, Kiya lived by herself in an apartment that, as she said, "had running water and electricity, but never at the same time." Her tender heart broke as she witnessed first hand the horrible conditions, physical disabilities and devastation the children lived with, yet Kiya was steadfast in her commitment to them, taking an hour plus bus ride each way to love and care for each of them.

Certainly "her kids" in her class at the Austin JCC had much easier lives, yet they received the same intense love and devotion she heaped upon every child she came across. Her love for her students was unmatched and we know that every one of them will be forever blessed by their time with her.

We could go on for days about how amazing Kiya was but we know that all who loved Kiya have their own stories and memories. We ask that you share your favorites with us. Towards that, we offer a couple of ways to commemorate the miracle of Kiya:

We will have an in person celebration on Saturday, November 18, 2023, from 1-4pm in Houston. If you'd like to be included, email us for details at KiyaOshaMemories@gmail.com.

Whether you join us for the in-person celebration or not, please share your favorite memories with us, in writing or video. To participate, please email your favorite stories, photos, videos to us at KiyaOshaMemories@gmail.com

While we appreciate all expressions of support, we request that in lieu of flowers you honor Kiya's commitment to St. Judes by using the following link to contribute directly to them in her memory: https://bit.ly/LoveKiya

With gratitude and love,

The Liebling/Osha Family