Kirsten Kallon

Kirsten Mary Kallon, age 33, formerly of Oyster Bay, New York, passed away at her home in St. Johnsbury, Vermont, Thursday morning, May 19, 2016, following a courageous battle against cancer.

Kirsten was born in Manhasset, NY, on April 19, 1983, daughter of Rosemary (Dieterich) and Charles Meierdiercks.  She grew up in Oyster Bay, graduated Summa Cum Laude from Adelphi University with a Master’s degree in Education.  She eventually set her sights on the medical field working as a Medical Assistant at the Urgent Care Center in NYC while pursuing a degree as a Physician Assistant.  It was during this time that she was diagnosed with cancer.

Kirsten was an athlete excelling at snowboarding and swimming.  She also enjoyed hiking, snowshoeing and walking.  Kirsten was a lifelong avid reader, who would refuse to leave the house without at least one reading source and could read any book in a quarter of the time that it would take anyone else to finish. During her illness she completed three half marathons and became involved with the organization, First Descents, which provides weeklong outdoor adventure trips for young adults with cancer.  She also joined Gilda’s Club, a community for cancer patients and their friends and families.  Through Gilda’s Club, she was able to connect with younger and older generations battling cancer.

She is survived by her beloved husband of seven years, Abass Kallon, of St. Johnsbury, VT, her father, Charles Meierdiercks of Kew Gardens, NY, her mother, Rosemary Meierdiercks and "stepfather",  James Grimm of Mendon, VT, her sister, Keryn Meierdiercks of Wakefield, MA, and her brother, Charles “Chip” Meierdiercks of Kew Gardens, NY. Kirsten’s extended family includes her uncle, Frank Meierdiercks and wife, Brenda of St. Johnsbury, VT, her aunts, Mary Jane Meierdiercks-Popovic of Belgrade, Serbia and Lisa Macris of NYC, her “Uncle” John Dowling of Annapolis, MD and her cousins Stacee Bako, Arlington, VA, Kate Meierdiercks, Otis, MA, Erika Meierdiercks and John Meierdiercks of Burlington, VT and Luke Meierdiercks of Chicago, IL.

A Celebration of Kirsten’s Life will be held in St. Johnsbury at the Alerin Barn (1838 Spaulding Rd) on Sunday July 31, from 1 - 4 pm.  For more information please go to http://www.kirstenkallon.com/.

Memorial donations may be made in Kirsten’s name to First Descents, 3001 Brighton Boulevard, Suite 623, Denver, CO 80216, or directly to firstdescents.org/get-involved/donate/

Condolences may be shared privately with the family at www.saylesfh.com