Kimberly M. Underwood of Doylestown, PA, died 20 November 2013 peacefully at home in her pajamas, exactly as she was most comfortable. She was born on 27 February 1969 in Camden and grew up in Haddonfield, New Jersey. She was born with complex cyanotic congenital heart disease, or in layman's terms, her heart had a single ventricle and worked twice as hard as everyone else's. Kim was not expected to live past the age of 2, but she liked to prove everyone wrong, and so she kept going to the august age of 44.

Kim attended Mt. Holyoke College in South Hadley, MA, where she graduated with a BA in English and general awesomeness. After college she worked for the Delaware Valley Lions Eye Bank, where she established the Gift of Sight Charity Golf Classic, now in its 20th year. The 2013 tournament held in August raised $20,000.00. Kim also taught English at Fairleigh Dickinson University in New Jersey and Delaware Valley College in Doylestown, Pennsylvania.

Kim received her Master's in English from Arcadia University, which was then called Beaver College. Kim refused to get a new diploma when the school changed its name. In 2003, Kim received her Doctorate in Medical Humanities from Drew University in Madison, New Jersey, where her doctoral thesis focused on medical narratives and stories from the infectious disease floor at Raritan Bay Medical Center. At the time of her death, Kim was president of the Doylestown chapter of the American Association of University Women and a member of the VIA.

Kim was a passionate Democrat. She campaigned for several congressional candidates, and supported those who championed her beliefs in equal rights and fair treatment.

Kim liked words. Kim also liked science, and medicine, which is only natural given that she probably spent 1/5th of her life in or around a hospital. She was particularly fond of her cardiologist, Dr. Susan Wiegers, who cared for Kim for over 15 years. Dr. Wiegers once gave Kim a copy of a Harry Potter novel inscribed, "To my favorite magic patient." Dr. Yuli Kim and the entire staff of the Adult Congenital Heart Disease Program at Penn Medicine also kept Kim in fighting form for many years.

Kim is survived by her wife, Sabrina L. Maurer of Doylestown, PA. They met when they were students at Mt. Holyoke, and were together for 17 years. They married on 2 September 2001 at St. George's Episcopal Church in Maplewood, NJ. Unfortunately, they were never able to legally marry, though they both looked forward to the day that everyone, including them, would be able to marry who they love, in Pennsylvania and every other state.

Kim is survived by her parents Patricia B. and Michael J. Underwood of Haddonfield, her brother Kevin M. Underwood and his wife Jenifer of Tampa, FL, and her sister Heather Szychoski and her much loved nephew Joel Szychoski, of Gloucester, NJ, goddaughter Emma Bonk, along with her god parents, aunts, uncles, and cousins.

Kim is also survived by her mother-in-law Dr. Carol N. Maurer and her father-in-law Kenneth O. Maurer of Oil City, PA, her brother- and sister-in-law Tim Maurer and Petra Heinsen of Durango, CO, and her sister-in-law KC Maurer, of Brooklyn, NY who called Kim "Betty" at every opportunity, her dog, Autumn the wonder poodle, and many friends.

She was predeceased by her grandparents, Dorothy and Stephen Bonk and Mr. and Mrs. Christopher Underwood. They all worshipped the ground she walked on.

Kim's great loves included Sabrina, Autumn, the Philadelphia Eagles (who we would like to thank for having a bye this weekend so we might celebrate her life on Sunday), Sylvia Plath, Coca-Cola, dirty jokes, dry humor, Harry Potter, fantasy football, trash talking during fantasy football, and mocking bad movies. Kim also liked food - as often as possible, and, given her metabolism, there was no such thing as too often. While planning Thanksgivukkah dinner, her only request was "ADD MORE GOAT CHEESE!"

Kim's email address was always "Overdoit" at many different email providers, a reference to the caution that she shouldn't overly tax herself. In memory of Kim, please take moment to breathe deeply, and overdo something that you love.

Donations in Kim's memory should be sent to the Doylestown Branch of the American Association of University Women (AAUW), 14 Sandy Knoll Dr, Doylestown, PA 18901. The proceeds will be used to fund a one-time scholarship in memory of Kim.

Kim’s family will receive relatives and friends, on Sunday November 24, from 1:00pm until her Memorial Services at 2:00pm in the Joseph A. Fluehr III Funeral Home 241 E. Butler Ave. (at Sandy Ridge Rd.) New Britain, PA 18901. A celebration of Kim’s life will continue at her residence immediately afterwards. The family will observe Shiva at the residence on Sunday and Monday.