A Sunday memorial service celebrating the life of 22-year-old Kate Svitek, who disappeared in Bend, Ore. Feb. 9, was held at Spring House's Congregation Beth Or just one day before her body was recovered by searchers. During the service, Rabbi Gregory Marx asked Kate's mother, Ellen, if she saw her daughter in heaven. Ellen said she could only see Kate in the snow. Marx then led the 1,400 attendees at the synagogue in a prayer for the family.

"I think that God granted us our closure," Ellen said of the March 4 discovery on Tuesday afternoon. "I'm happy that she's going to be coming home." Ellen said she was thankful for all those in the community who offered their love, support and prayers during the past several weeks. All those who spoke recalled the Upper Dublin woman's adventurous spirit and enthusiasm for everything she did.

Marx said he always thinks of Svitek's love of life when he remembers his former student, whom he taught in the synagogue's academy program. "Kate was not a sitter. Kate was a doer," he said. "That's what brings me, in this horrible tragedy, comfort. She died living life and doing what she loved to do."

Svitek was snowboarding with friends on Mount Bachelor in Bend on Feb. 9 when the group members got separated from each other. When she did not return, an intense search effort commenced for the next 10 days involving rescuers on skis, snowshoes, snowmobiles and crews in helicopters. Officials estimated hundreds of man-hours were spent on the operation before the search was scaled back Feb. 19. Svitek was found by a Mount Bachelor ski patrol the afternoon of March 4.

The 1,400 people gathered at the March 3 Beth Or service was the largest crowd for a service in the congregation's history, according to Marx. The Svitek family, which includes Kate's parents, Ellen and Frank, and younger brother, Michael, are active members of the synagogue, with Ellen currently serving as first vice president of the congregation. Ellen Svitek later said the huge turnout for the memorial service was a testament to how loved Kate was and a tribute to her being.

A graduate of Fort Washington's Germantown Academy, Kate Svitek earned her degree in outdoor recreation, with a minor in eco-tourism, from the University of Vermont last year. This past year, she made the move to Bend, Ore., to work as a ticket attendant at the Mount Bachelor ski resort.

Delivering the service's eulogy, Marx reflected on how fearless she was in just picking up and moving across the country as well as how she had the ability to tackle all challenges head-on with vigor. The natural world was the focal point in Kate's life, he said, evidenced by her 75-day stay in Antarctica and her climb to the top of Mount Ranier, one of the highest mountains in the continental United States.
Despite their sadness, many in attendance responded with knowing laughter when Marx talked about the leadership skills demonstrated as a 3-year-old. On a progress report given to her parents at that time, a teacher remarked that she was not worried about leaving the room for a moment because she felt secure with Kate there.

The Svitek family asked that anyone wishing to make a donation to Kate's memory send it to Congregation Beth Or, P.O. Box 660, Spring House, PA 19477, and designate it for the Kate Svitek Memorial Fund.