Kristin Olson Spinney's Obituary
"Every life carries a unique tune - a melody the Universe leans in to hear."
Kristin “HaHa” Olson Spinney (88) carried a unique melody about her, and on February 12th, 2026, the Universe lost one of its most original tunes. She was truly a sui generis in every area of her life. There are guidelines for writing an obituary, and our mother would mainly abide by those, but she would also find a way to make it her own. I hope we can accomplish the same.
Kristin was born in Kansas City, Missouri to Lawrence and Adelaide Olson, on April 13th, 1937. The family of eight ended up in Marblehead, MA where Kristy eventually went to work for WGBH in Boston. It is there she met Kenneth Campbell Spinney who had overheard her saying she liked bran muffins and chocolate milkshakes. When he took her out for those, the deal was sealed. They raised four daughters, Jaffrey, Darcy, Saige, Tamasin, in a house where Haha read a myriad of eclectic literature and poems which the daughters are eternally grateful for as it helped shaped the same sense of humor that Haha possessed. When you learn your ABC's with the help of Edward Gorey, you know you will have an interesting perspective on life.
Haha had an immense wit and an eye to see the sublime to the ridiculous. She was also keenly aware of finding beauty in the not so apparent and least likely places. The skill she passed on to those willing to notice the wonders around them, no matter how obscure, is truly a wonderful gift.
Haha also volunteered to help others throughout her life. From the YMCA to the Brownies to Meals-on-Wheels, Haha gave her immense heart to people and causes the entire span of her life.
Haha worked for the Planning Research Corporation in Mclean, Virginia. She was a master gardener with a knack for identifying most plants way before there was an app for that. She did the same with birds. It is no wonder that she married a Spinney, as defined in the Oxford English dictionary, as a copse, a hedge or a grove of trees.
Haha’s interests included golf, which she excelled at, tennis, which she mastered from grass to clay, cross country skiing, and bicycling across Europe after working at the Barnacle in Marblehead to get the fare to go. She was Captain of her basketball team and was still excited to make baskets into her rubbage can in her 80's. Haha was a ballerina at the Boston Ballet Company until the bike trip across Europe. Upon her return, her thighs had become much more muscular, and it was recommended she take up jazz dance.
Haha was always musing over the fact that she would not leave a legacy. We would point out her life accomplishments: the items she had knitted or embroidered, the wonderful ways she had designed our gardens, decorated the house, raised four daughters, knew almost every word in the dictionary, had produced grandchildren and great grandchildren. No matter what, she would still fidget and think it wasn't enough.
We know it was more than enough. Our mother's true legacy is that of kindness, consideration, joy, love, and an incredibly quick wit. She was constantly penning a note to a friend or family, calling to check in on someone, or dropping off a random "thinking of you" gift. Haha sent cards and letters during the "obligatory" times, but also the just because times.
Kristin thought legacy meant a huge gesture or major accomplishment in life like an Emmy, a Pulitzer or a statue in a park, but her sincere acts of kindness are the legacy. For those lucky enough to have crossed paths with her, please, carry on her legacy and be kind. We know that her millions of small gestures meant more than one great feat.
Kristy took great pride in her family. She is survived by her daughters Jaffrey, Darcy (Jim), Saige (David), Tamasin (Eddy), her grandchildren Tess (John), Cody, Kristin(Ben)., and Brad (Ashley)and her great grandchildren Angelina, Liam, Paige, Julianna, her sisters Alix and Hilary, brothers Eric and Kurt, and all of her friends she loved dearly.
In lieu of flowers, casseroles, and offers of shoveling snow, the family would love donations towards a bench at the Botanical gardens of Delaware. They do not accept donations directly (mom would have called to rectify that) so please send donations to PO Box 1211 Millsboro, DE 19966, C/O Jaffrey Hollingsworth. Any donations that reach over the bench costs will go toward charities Haha cared for. When the bench is placed in Spring/Summer we will have a bittersweet gathering to celebrate the wondrous, beyond comparable Haha. We miss you to the stars, the moon, and back again.
"How lucky are we to have something that makes saying goodbye so hard".
Please sign the virtual guestbook located on the tribute page.
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