Kathleen Roberts

Kathleen Roberts was a tender and gracious woman who inspired countless others whether it be her students, her family, or someone she just met. She was passionate about providing her students with a love for learning and an appreciation for the beauty in all things. Blessed to spend the best years of her life alongside her true love, Kathleen was an extraordinary wife and mother who provided her sons with timeless lessons such as to do the right thing and to be loyal to the people and things you treasure. With an unwavering faith as her constant companion, Kathleen taught us that there is little value found in the things of this world, but that it is through loving others that we are richly blessed.

The first part of the 1940s were darkened by the shadow of WWII. However, there was much to celebrate with the war’s end in 1945 when the Allied Powers declared victory. It was when countless young servicemen and women were returning stateside that a young couple was overjoyed to announce the birth of their daughter, Kathleen Joyce, on February 22, 1946. She was the older of two girls born to her parents, Harold and Marie (Joyce) Kern, and was raised alongside her sister, Karen. Because Kathleen was six-and-a-half years older than her sister, Karen looked up to her older sister. The two girls shared a room, and Kathleen affectionately called her younger sister, Puppy. Her father, a Pearl Harbor survivor, worked as a boiler inspector, moved his family from the city to their first house in Westville Indiana where Kathleen cherished her early childhood memories. Eventually the family settled in Michigan City, Indiana. Kathleen did some modeling - even taking second place in the Junior Miss Pageant. She was a student at local schools, graduating from St. Mary’s High School in Michigan City in 1964.

After earning her B.A. in Art from Nazareth College in Kalamazoo in 1968, Kathleen was poised for a fulfilling career. She began teaching at the local Catholic schools and also substituting in Kalamazoo Schools. From there Kathleen was hired by Comstock Schools to teach art at both Green Meadow Elementary and Gull Road Elementary. She absolutely loved her job and was passionate about teaching kids all about art. Kathleen was a firm believer in the notion that every child can be greatly enriched through art as it develops confidence and creativity that can be used in other areas of life and types of study. She also volunteered at the Art Institute downtown. Kathleen officially retired in 2009.

Not to be forgotten during her years as a young woman was Kathleen’s introduction to the young man of her dreams. His name was Fred Roberts. They met at a dance at the Knights of Columbus Hall on March 10, 1967. It had been a long winter that year, and everyone was ready to get out and burn off some energy, which made the dance a popular activity that evening. After dancing a couple of times throughout the night, Fred asked for Kathleen’s number at the end of the evening. To say she was excited would be putting it mildly as she jumped up and down at his request. Their first official date was just a few days later on St. Patrick‘s Day. With a desire to establish a life together Kathleen and Fred were married on June 29, 1968, at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Michigan City.

Together Kathleen and Fred were blessed with three children, Michael, Thomas, and David. Kathleen embraced motherhood. She made sure that her children’s lives were enriched through a variety of activities like Cub Scouts, art, memorable vacations and Little League. The Roberts family went on several vacations through the years including to Florida and camping during the warmer months closer to home. Kathleen devoted her entire life to children both as a teacher and as a mother.

In addition to being with her family and sharing her love of art, Kathleen’s life was enriched in other ways. She was a member of St. Joseph Parish where she helped on funeral lunches and served as a Eucharistic minister and prior to that she was a member of the Marian Guild at St. Augustine Catholic Church. Kathleen enjoyed hobbies like scrapbooking, finding spoons to add to her collection, and with her entrepreneurial spirit, she was a natural at demonstrating Oster products, selling Mary Kay Cosmetics and being a Creative Memories consultant. She loved being by the water, especially Lake Michigan and in Florida where she loved combing the beaches for seashells and rocks. Kathleen did some traveling abroad, too, to places like Spain, Ireland, Europe, and Egypt, which were among some of the most exciting times in her life.

As a longtime resident of the Kalamazoo area, Kathleen was involved in numerous groups and organizations. She was a member of the Red Hat Society where she made many close friends. Kathleen was also the historian for the local chapter of the Red Hat Society, the Dining Divas. She served as the president of the Eastwood Community Association for a time and also of the Alumni Association of Nazareth College. She was very articulate and detail-oriented with a great sense of humor.

The things that made Kathleen such an extraordinary woman are extensive. She was generous and gracious, and it was in this spirit that she and Fred hosted a foreign exchange students. Kathleen also worked with the exchange program itself to help place other students with host families. Kathleen was thrifty by nature and many times she purchased items to donate to charitable causes such as the St. Vincent DePaul shop and the Migrant Worker Ministry. Holidays were such memorable days when Kathleen was around as she went over and above to make them special, particularly Christmas.

Although life will never be the same without Kathleen Roberts here, the memories she leaves behind will be forever cherished. By nature she was outgoing and friendly and could carry a conversation with anyone and everyone. She was always on the move with some sort of project going. Kathleen’s faith guided everything she did, and she was hardworking, honest, and loyal. It was no secret that she viewed the day she met Fred to be the best day of her life, and together they raised the sons who made them so proud. Kathleen will be dearly missed by many.

Kathleen Roberts of Kalamazoo died at her home on Thursday, April 18, 2013. Kathleen’s family includes her husband, Fred; 3 sons: Michael, Thomas, and David (Zhanna) Roberts; sister: Karen (Jerry) Finkbonner; and many other nieces and nephews. Learn more about Kathleen, view her Life Story film, and visit with her family and friends on Monday from 4-8 p.m. at the Life Story Funeral Home, Betzler, 6080 Stadium Drive, Kalamazoo (375-2900). A Rosary will be held at 7:30 P.M. Mass of Christian Burial will be on Tuesday at 11 a.m. at St. Joseph Catholic Church, 936 Lake Street. Please visit Kathleen’s personal webpage at www.lifestorynet.com where you can archive a favorite memory or photo, and sign her online guestbook. Memorial contributions may be made to Reverence Home Health and Hospice, St. Vincent DePaul Society, St. Joseph Church, Loaves and Fishes.