Rest in Peace Owen Kay 28.7.2003 - 29.7.2026

My name is Monica, and I’m creating this fundraiser because Sharon Kay is like a second mum to me.

Since I was 16 years old, the Kay family has welcomed me into their home with open arms and loved me like one of their own. Sharon has always been there for me through life’s ups and downs, and she has become so much more than a family friend, she’s family.

Owen was like a little brother to me. I’ve known him for 19 of his 23 years, and my heart is completely broken by his sudden passing. But as heartbreaking as losing Owen has been, my heart also breaks for Sharon, his sisters, his partner, his nieces and nephews, and everyone who loved him. No family should ever have to endure such a devastating loss, especially one that came so suddenly.

Owen was only 23 years old.

In the weeks leading up to his passing, Owen had been suffering from severe headaches and had attended Gosford Hospital on multiple occasions before being sent home. Tragically, after celebrating his 23rd birthday, Owen went to sleep and never woke up. The exact circumstances surrounding his passing are still being investigated, with a suspected aneurysm or stroke, and his body remains with the Coroner, with hopes it will be released this week once the cause is formally determined.

If you knew Owen, you knew he was someone who truly lived life to the fullest. He was adventurous, fearless, cheeky, and always looking for his next thrill. We all used to joke that if anything ever happened to Owen, it would be while doing something wild or daring, because that was just who he was. Yet behind that adventurous spirit was one of the kindest and most genuine people you could ever meet. Owen loved deeply. He was fiercely protective of his family, adored his older and younger sisters, loved spending time with his nieces and nephews, and was always the first person to check in on someone who needed it. During the bushfires near my home, Owen was one of the very first people to message me to make sure I was safe, even before members of my own family did. That simple act says everything about the type of person he was. He cared deeply about others, expected nothing in return, and left a lasting impact on everyone lucky enough to know him.

As heartbreaking as Owen’s passing is, Sharon wants his life to be remembered for the way he lived it, not for the way it ended. She wants people to remember the laughter, the adventures, the mischief, the memories, and the incredible young man he became. Owen embraced life with everything he had, and those who knew him will forever cherish the joy he brought into the world.

I cannot begin to imagine the pain Sharon is experiencing. Losing a child is every parent’s worst nightmare, and no mother should ever have to bury her son. The shock is still so raw that it hardly feels real. While trying to process the unimaginable loss of Owen, Sharon is also the full-time carer for her beautiful three-year-old granddaughter, whom she has lovingly cared for over the past three years. She continues to put others before herself, even while carrying the heaviest grief a mother could ever know.

If there is one person who deserves kindness and support, it is Sharon. She has spent her life loving people unconditionally, opening her heart and her home to anyone who needed it. She has always been there for others, including me, asking for nothing in return. I wish I could take this burden away from her myself, but unfortunately I don’t have the financial means to do that. What I do have is a platform, and my hope is that together we can help lift some of the financial pressure from Sharon and the Kay family during this heartbreaking time.

Every dollar raised will go directly to Sharon Kay to help cover Owen’s funeral expenses and ease the financial burden on the family. My hope is that this fundraiser allows Sharon and her family to spend this time focusing on each other, honouring Owen’s life, and grieving without the added stress of financial pressure.

If you are able to donate, no matter how big or small, thank you from the bottom of my heart. If you’re unable to donate, simply sharing this fundraiser would mean the world to Sharon, the Kay family, and everyone who loved Owen. A funeral date will be shared once his body has been released.

Thank you for helping us honour Owen’s life and support a family that has given so much love to so many.

Rest easy, Owen. You will forever be loved, forever remembered, and forever missed.