Kathleen H. Hess

(Nee Curley)

Age 97, late of Lockport passed away peacefully at home on Tuesday, October 31, 2023, with family by her side. Born and raised in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, she lived in Laguna Beach, CA for a short time and was a resident of Lockport since 1954. She was a devout member of St. Joseph Catholic Church, and the school's parents' club. Kay was a talented seamstress and quilter, loved working in her woodland garden, enjoyed watching and feeding backyard birds, and was an enthusiastic cook. She loved flying around the country with Clancy, the annual airshows at Oshkosh and "Sun n Fun" in Florida, and yearly vacations with the whole family including a journey to Australia, Fiji, and Papua New Guinea in the early 1970s. Her favorite spot was the Moana Hotel on Waikiki beach. Kay worked at Northwestern Bell Telephone, Collins Radio Company, and Borden's Ice Cream Company in her early years, and retired after thirteen years at Carson's department store in 2006. Above all else, she devoted her life to being a loving wife, mother, grandmother, great grandmother.

Preceded in death by her beloved husband, Clarence A. Hess (December 25, 2014); her parents, Elmer and Lillian (Nee Coombes) Curley; one brother, Richard (Faye) Curley; and a sister, Mary Elgas.

Survived by her six loving children, Kathy (Larry Knipper) Kallai of Joliet, John Hess of Lockport, Bob Hess of Mesa, AZ., Greg Hess of Joliet, Jim (Nicole) Hess of Naperville, and Sue (Steve) Miller of Batavia; seven cherished grandchildren, Maggie (Mike) Martin, Thomas (Lindsey) Kallai, Mia and Charlie Hess, Dan Miller, Jessy (Tom) DeLine and Julie Miller; adored great grandchildren, Ian and Camden Martin, Molly, Ben, and Connor Kallai, Haleigh and Olly DeLine; son-in-law Tom Kallai; brother, Jack (late Marcella "Mickey") Curley; numerous nephews and nieces also survive. In lieu of flowers, memorials in Kathleen's name to Lightways Hospice would be greatly appreciated. Cremation rites were respectfully addressed.

A memorial gathering will be held on Tuesday, November 7, 2023, at St. Joseph Catholic Church 410 S. Jefferson St. Lockport, IL 60441 from 9:30am until time of Mass of Christian Burial at 10:30am. Following Mass Inurnment will take place at Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery, Elwood at 12:30pm.