Kathleen Mary Sterling

Kathleen Mary Sterling will be dearly missed by everyone blessed enough to have known her. She passed away peacefully on Friday, November 1, 2024, surrounded by her loving family after a valiant battle with lung cancer. She faced her illness with grace, strength, and unwavering faith in God, inspiring everyone who knew her.

Known to bring light and joy into all of her relationships, Kathy’s impact on her community reached wide. She was a caring wife, a loving mother, a thoughtful sister, a generous grandma, a supportive aunt, a loyal friend, and countless other sources of goodness for her people. She had an easy smile and an easier laugh, and endless supplies of both kindness and optimism. She had boundless energy for others and was selfless with her time and love. Kathy’s faith was central to every aspect of her life. She was a woman of God, clothed with strength and dignity, and practiced the power of prayer and devotion every day. She proclaimed Jesus Christ the love of her life, and especially in the past few months, Kathy often referred to her life as beautiful and full. 

Kathy grew up the eldest daughter of seven children and often filled the role of second mother to her younger siblings; toting the littlests along on her adventures. She survived solely on Tab and Fritos during her early twenties, and lived in New York City and Rockford, Illinois before settling back in Des Plaines to raise her family. As a single mother to her three kids for a period, Kathy parented with fierceness and ferocity, often working two jobs to make ends meet, but never failing to be present for her children. Kathy was an early and consistent advocate for family gatherings and remained the driving force behind regular celebrations. Her annual Easter egg hunt grew every year, and the prizes became hotly sought after by the gaggle of kids in attendance. Kathy’s backyard cookouts would often extend late into the evening, with laughter echoing throughout the neighborhood. 

Kathy’s home was a personification of her: warm and welcoming. Her refrigerator was covered in photos of loved ones, often layered three-to-four pictures deep - evidence of her reluctance to stash away old favorites. The kitchen table at Kathy’s was the site of thousands of game nights, homecooked meals, Bible studies, and in general, a cozy beacon for all visitors to Stillwell. After her kids had moved out, Kathy converted an upstairs bedroom to her sewing room - headquarters for one-of-a-kind Halloween costumes, wedding gown alterations, and original home decor - all beautifully constructed with careful detail by her. Another spare bedroom quickly became the most vibrant grandkid playroom, where the little ones loved spending nights at grandma’s. Kathy tended to a thriving garden in her yard that she added to spring after spring, caring for bright flowers and plentiful vegetables with talent and tenderness. 

Throughout her career in steel and raw materials shipping, Kathy worked her way from the reception desk to an integral role in sales coordination and formed lasting relationships with colleagues and business partners alike. Upon retiring in 2023, Kathy filled her days with lunches with her grandkids, sisters’ dates, nights out with her loving husband, and she never missed her weekly Bible studies. Weekends often included attending a handful of her grandkids’ sports games and her Sunday church service. She began each day by reading her Bible and sipping a coffee at her corner of the kitchen table. Retirement offered Kathy time to travel too, and she knocked a few spots off her list in the past year including Seattle and Santa Barbara. Kathy was always ready for a Minnesota road trip, eager to reignite the old trivial pursuit rivalry. Her calendar as a retiree was consistently filled, and Kathy spent her final physical years enjoying life and her loved ones. 

Kathy was undoubtedly welcomed at the gates of heaven into the loving arms of Jesus Christ.

A celebration of Kathy’s life will be held at The Bridge Community Church in Des Plaines (946 E. Thacker Street) from 2:30 pm to 6:30 pm on Thursday, November 7, 2024, with a service held between 5 pm and 6 pm. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you consider donating to the American Cancer Society in Kathy's honor.

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