Katherine Ann (Meyer) Budo

I am sorry to here of Katie's passing. Although it has been a number of years since I have seen Katie, years ago when we were all much younger I had many camping and boating trips with Katie and her family. Many many good memories. My heart felt sympathy goes out to her family.

Katie was my dear friend, coworker, and my husband’s beloved nurse. I’ve known Katie for over 20 years and loved every precious minute I could spend with her. When she walked into a room, laughter was soon to follow. If wit and humor were a skill, she mastered them. She was beyond intelligent, a loving/protective mother to her beautiful Brighton and Braxton and the sidekick to her sister Chris. We loved Katieboo and were so proud to be considered her friends. Losing her has left a hole in our hearts.

Dearest Katie, You were such a wonderful Nurse, friend, mother, sibling and co worker. I still cannot believe you are gone. We had so many wonderful years together working in Neurology. We always had so many laughs together making our challenging days seem easier. There is such an emptiness knowing you will no longer be blessing us here on this Earth. Rest easy you beautiful soul.

Thanks Katie. Thank you for being one of the good people in this world and sharing your light and joy with the rest of us. Thank you for being the other kid in an adult's body and playing laser tag and tearing up the go-cart track in Grand Junction. Thank you for steering a wayward soul away from the world of mimosas. Thank you for blessing us with two shining stars - Brax and Sunshine - and letting me hangout with them. Thank you for being you. Love you; miss you and I will see you in another life.

I have so many memories with Katie from the few short years I got to know her. Most of these I can’t share because they are too embarrassing or inappropriate  From the moment Katie came to Mayo and entered our little pod she fit right in. She was the perfect completion to our group 5 in this office. Days we all worked together we would find ourselves belly laughing. I remember one time a certain doctor (one she adored) had to come tell us to quiet down because our laughter was so loud. Katie was the kind of friend that when I was around her she would make me feel at ease. She had this compassion that out shined most other people. She made friends with everyone, from the Kwik Trip staff to the lady she bought her cheese sticks and coffee from. She would drop everything for you; including the time she picked me up from the Emergency room after a freak accident while most people were sleeping. We had the kind of relationship- where we noted each other’s flaws and embraced it. We plucked each other’s gray hairs and made sure there was always a clear way to the bathroom. She had the best laugh! I think I’ll miss that the most. She always had stories to share about Brighton and Braxton; her love for you was amazing. She was so proud of you two, the amount of stories she shared-again you would likely find embarrassing- but were so great to hear. She often talked about your partners and how wonderful they were to you two, the trips you went on, and your new houses. She knew you were all growing up perfectly. I will miss seeing your little faces on her phone and popping my head in to say hi. Love you, Katie. Sending big hugs to you all.

Dear sweet friend ... the shock of hearing you're an Angel now has put tears in my eyes and a flood of memories shared. The times spent together and introducing you to the father of your amazing children is one. Seeing you and Holly a few years back in Utah and cracking up about how you told your children if it wasn't for me, they wouldn't be in the World and how grateful you were. For selling me your roller skate (GEO METRO) as you called it ... and from taking the phone call letting me know I was going to be a mom cause I was to chicken to hear it. For spoiling my son Remington when he was born to the many many shoulder cries ... as you held me up. True saddness hurts my heart. Our friendship dates back 29 years and i'm truly thankful for having you through my journey. Thank you for love and friendship along the way. I can't express just how much I truly grateful I am to have met such a wonderful Super Star. You're laughter and smile and the many many nights shared sipping our wine I will forever keep in my heart. My deepest condolences to Braxton and Brighton and to everyone who knew such an amazing friend/sister/mother/daughter. May all the memories made bring you a smile in your aching hearts. May Heavenly Father hold you tight through your most difficult days ahead. LOVE YOU KATIE. THANK YOU FOR BEING SO AMAZING ... YOU WILL BE FOREVER MISSED. :( Reneé Navarro Heinrich Chicago, IL

My Katie, my heart is so heavy writing this message. If I had to describe Katie I would say she the most loving, accepting, supportive person out there. I was Katie's hair stylist, but I wasn't just her hair stylist our relationship was more than that. She was my friend, I considered her family. But I guess that was Katie, she made everyone feel welcome, like family. Katie always took care of me, she was so thoughtful and always there for whatever I needed, always lightening the burden. Katie was so funny, hilarious funny, the kind where you laugh so hard you cry and your stomach hurts. Katie was a beautiful soul and I am incredibly blessed to have known her and called her a friend. She will be sorely sorely missed. I am so thankful she brought Braxton and Brighton into this world. She raised a beautiful family. I love the Budo's so much. My heart is broken.

Katie, I will miss your kind smile and infectious laugh. You were always there to help during all our busy days (not to mention all our questions you readily answered when the Epic upgrade happened) and I’ll miss working with you on our Unit Council meetings. Your personality was a magnet and you were a friend to all. There is an emptiness within our nursing family that we all feel each and every day. We will miss you Katie but we will never forget you and the wonderful memories you created with us. Thank you for sharing your short time here with us. Miss you my friend. ❤️

It was a privilege and honor to have known Katie, even for the short amount of time we had. She was one of the most caring and kind hearted people I knew. I was saddened to hear of her sudden passing. I will not forget the laughter and joy we shared. The halls in Mayo feel empty without her around. I will miss her and her dog mom stories as much as her stories (and occasional shared FaceTime with Brighton) of her kids. Be at peace Katie. We will miss you.

Thank you Katie for your too short time with us in Neurology at Mayo Clinic. Your willingness to help, whether it was with seeing and caring for a difficult patient, or providing us with a creative work around to a roadblock we encountered in the Epic medical record system, your infectious smile always made our life a little easier, more joy filled at work, and admiring of you. Thank you for your kind service. Thank you for your worry about those patients who did not always follow the the directions we suggested, and your persistence to make sure they were all right. Your love for your patients and colleagues was always evident in your work. You will be tragically missed, but I pray you are in a place of greater peace. To your family we wish our deepest sympathy, as they have lost a a compassionate friend, mother, and caring example of a dedicated medical professional who always put others first. We will miss you immensely.

To Katie's family and friends, please accept my sincere condolences for your great loss. Katie was my mom's neurology nurse. My mom trusted and loved Katie, and she and Dr. Cutsforth-Gregory were (are) such a blessing to our family. I pray that Katie's family and friends can find peace and comfort during this time, and that Katie knows how special she was. My mom has a disease called corticobasal degeneration and folded the pages of a book for Katie to create an image that said "Super nurse." These books take about 40 hours for my mom to make, and it's not an easy task especially because of her disease. It was so important to my mom that she make one for Katie to show her appreciation for her. She had an appointment come up at the last minute and got Katie's book done in 2-3 days. She is so glad it got into her hands in time. -Whitney Simon (daughter of Amy and Roger Schmitz)