On October 24, 2010, Kimberley Rochelle Williams-Ibarra suffered a blood clot in her lungs, which took her life. Kimberley had expressed to her family her wishes to be an organ and tissue for many years. As the Manager of the Walnut Creek Department of Motor Vehicles field office, Kimberley had the opportunity to see firsthand how the partnership between the DMV and Donate Life California had made a difference in thousands of lives. Kimberley's decision to be an organ and tissue donor was honored. "Kimberley believed in helping others," said Rae Williams, Kimberley's mother. "Being a donor in Kimberley's eyes was an honor. She was truly someone special."

Kimberley's Story

Kimberley Rochelle Williams-Ibarra was born September 15, 1966. Smart and loving, she was a joy. Kimberley loved to read and do homework as a child. As she grew up she became independent, responsible and always willing to listen to the advice from her parents"

"Kimberley was a great big sister to her brother, Kobie, and a loving fiancee, granddaughter, aunt, niece, cousin and best friend," said Rae Williams, Kimberley's mother. "But most of all, she was a wonderful daughter. If I could have picked a daughter, I would have picked Kimberley, but God saw fit to give me a special gift in giving Kimberley to me."

Kimberley began her career at the California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) after attending the University of San Francisco. She worked at the DMV for 19 years. She was instrumental in starting a holiday program at her DMV office that involved adopting four families. She also had input in writing procedures that are used in DMV offices today. In 2009, Kimberley was named 'Woman of the Year' for the Northern California DMV Region.

On October 24, 2010, Kimberley suffered a blood clot in her lungs, which took her life. Kimberley had expressed to her family her wishes to be an organ and tissue donor for many years. As the Manager of the Walnut Creek DMV field office, Kimberley had the opportunity to see firsthand how the partnership between the DMV and Donate Life California had made a difference to thousands of lives. As a registered donor, Kimberley's decision to be an organ and tissue donor was honored. Kimberley was able to donate her tissues and enhance up to 50 lives through her donation.

"Kimberley believed in helping others," said Williams. "She felt it was a part of her duty to give back what God had given her. Being a donor in Kimberley's eyes was an honor. She was truly someone special."

Kimberley would be thrilled to know that she was chosen to represent Donate Life California and the DMV as a floragraph honoree on the Donate Life Rose Parade float. The Rose Parade was Kimberley's parade; she began watching the parade at age four with her grandmother and continued to watch it every year. Kimberley would be honored to know that as a donor she left a living legacy.