Kathleen Hart
In Honor and Memory of Kathleen Hart
A smiling, talkative, and gregarious woman throughout her life, Kathleen Hart was one of five siblings in Darke County Ohio. According to her siblings, she was the family peacekeeper and referee, with ever a kind word for the people in her close-knit community. She loved games–most of all card games–and had an exacting and precise nature. Her fastidiousness made school a breeze. She graduated from Elkhart Institute of Technology in 1967 as a lab technician, and was able to work in a hospital in Goshen Indiana until her symptoms prohibited a full time job.
At 42 years old, Kathleen accompanied her mother to live at Brethren Retirement Community. As a naturally detail oriented person, she eagerly planned events both at church and in her new home. She was also the go-to organizer for vacations and outings, and loved hosting her family and friends.
An avid crafter, Kathleen’s favorite hobbies were knitting, needlepoint, and latch hooking. She enjoyed creating pieces for charities, and donated much of her work to local organizations. Kathleen’s generosity extended to furry friends, too. Kathleen loved animals, and would feed her winged and four-legged guests from her porch. She cherished her pet cats.
Life at Brethren Retirement Community suited Kathleen. She is remembered for her big smiles, dependable and sensible nature, and open-mindedness. Two years in a row, she put her mental acuity to work, winning Brethren’s Home the coveted first place title for the Adult Spelling Bee! When she moved to the medical center, her nurses found that after a visit from Kathleen, stormy patients would be laughing in minutes. Dubbed “The Happy Lady” by staff, Kathleen found ways to bring joy to those around her, even when she was feeling her worst. This is credited to her strong faith and her five loves: God, family, cats, the color purple, and butterflies.
Special thanks go to Kathleen’s devoted brother and dedicated caretaker, Tim Hart, for sharing his memories with the National MS Brain Bank.
