PORT ANGELES — Across the yellow child-height desk in Franklin Elementary School’s library, students penned messages in memory of paraeducator Sheila R. Kettel.
“Mrs. Kettel, you were the best libraryan.”
“You always helped me when I was super sad.”
“I will always love you.”
“I will never ever forget you.”
On Thursday morning, Kettel of Port Angeles, 52, died by an apparent suicide at 9/11 Waterfront Memorial Park, previously Francis Street Park, according to Port Angeles police.
During her last six years at Franklin, Kettel cultivated a special connection with many students, Principal Amity Butler said.
“She was one of those people who cared,” she said, remembering the many times Kettel went out of her way to find a misshelved book a student requested. Misshelving, of course, occurs quite often at the hands of kindergartners, Butler said, laughing.
One of the last books Kettel read was “The Fourteenth Goldfish,” a story about a dearly departed goldfish, science and immortality, to third-grade students, Butler said.
Along Kettel’s memory wall, students recounted their favorite books Kettel either read or found: “Spider and shark books.” “Helped find gymnastic books.” “She found my favorite book, ‘Are You My Mother?’” “She helped me with Treehouse books.” “She showed me Dr. Suess books.”
Across Franklin classrooms Friday, teachers set up activities allowing students to grieve Kettel’s death in their own ways, Butler said.
Children wrote notes and printed photographs of Kettel. Kindergartners sprinkled paper hearts with “lots of glitter.” Students drew pictures of Mrs. Kettel and their favorite books.
“Today was a great healing day,” Butler said Friday.
Butler said Kettel brought a caring, consistent and thoughtful presence to Franklin.
For many students, she was the first face to greet them at 7:30 a.m. before school.
For every season, Kettel decorated the library.
And for every child, she took note of his or her beloved books, tagged them with sticky notes and personally delivered them to classrooms.
During book drives, she spent her own money on those novels her students always requested.
“She truly listened and learned about people,” Butler said. “She was thoughtful and took note of what made others happy and what their interests and likes were. She gave a lot of herself to others.”
Superintendent Marc Jackson of the Port Angeles School District said Kettel started working in the district as a substitute teacher in 2000, began as a paraeducator at Franklin in 2001 and worked there for a short time before moving on to Monroe Elementary and Roosevelt Elementary schools, respectively.
Kettel returned to Franklin in 2010 as a paraeducator. She spent most of her time in the library but also helped students in their classrooms, Butler said.
On Friday, Franklin devoted especial support to the fourth-, fifth- and sixth-grade students who “knew [Kettel] well and gravitated to her,” Jackson said.
On Thursday, Butler emailed a letter to all Franklin families, explaining the school’s intention to address Kettel’s death in class Friday morning.
“It is not uncommon for us to remember our elementary school staff for the rest of our lives,” she wrote. “They are ageless, forever reading us a good book, helping us on an assignment, greeting us at the door or walking with us at recess. As adults we can separate — when we want to — the reality of life from this timeless vision.”
“It is more difficult for our children, and the news of Ms. Kettel’s passing will likely come as a shock. She made a positive mark on the hearts of many students at Franklin and it will be difficult for them and for all of us, to work through.”
Beyond Franklin, Jackson said it seems Kettel was well-known and regarded in Port Angeles.
“My sense is that she was well thought of and a terrific person, not just in the schools but the community,” Jackson said.
Apart from working at Franklin, Kettel enjoyed going on walks, shopping, kayaking at Lake Crescent and traveling across the pond or the state for a weekend trip, Butler said.
She is survived by husband Jeff and adult son Jordan, Butler said. Kettel’s sister and father visited the elementary school Friday, Butler said.
It was not known Saturday whether any private or community memorial services will be planned in Port Angeles or elsewhere.
Mrs. Kettel’s absence will certainly be felt among Franklin students and staff, Butler said.
“I miss her care for students, the way that she greeted them in the morning, her smile, her willingness to help in any way she could,” Butler said. “And I will miss her as a member of our Franklin community.”
“We lost her,” she continued. “She will be greatly missed.”
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Reporter Sarah Sharp can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 56650, or at ssharp@peninsuladailynews.com.
Franklin Elementary School students explain what they loved about “Mrs. Kettel.” (Sarah Sharp/Peninsula Daily News)
Sheila Kettel
