ROCHELLE — Mary Kathleen Harper “Kathy”, 66, passed away on Wednesday, Sept. 27, 2017, after a courageous battle with cancer. Kathy was born to Joseph and Mary Kathryn (Friel) Fenwick on Feb. 23, 1951 in Dixon.
Kathy married Danny Harper on Dec. 2, 1977. They had three children, Brian (Katie) Harper, Sarah (Trevor) Hogan, and Jason (Eryn) Harper. She was proud to be known as Grammy to her six grandbabies - Harper, Madeline, Sophie, Avery, Conrad and Jed.
Kathy’s faith in God was strong. She was never short on conversation, she loved to read, travel, craft, and, above all, spend time with her family. She spent 40 years in the classroom teaching young children. Kathy was known for her big heart - her willingness to help someone out was one of her best qualities.
Kathy is preceded in death by her parents, Joseph and Mary Fenwick; mother and father in-law, Meredith and Willie Harper; and her brother, Ed Fenwick.
Kathy is survived by her husband; children; grandchildren; brothers, Jack Fenwick, Jim (Pam) Fenwick , Tom (Jan) Fenwick, Buck (Jan) Fenwick, Steve (Dawn) Fenwick; sisters, Karen (Spencer) Hayden, Joyce (Larry) Groenhagen and Therese Fenwick; nieces, nephews, and many, many wonderful friends. She enjoyed an especially close relationship with nephews, Chris and Tim Hayden and Adam and Chad Groenhagen, and niece, Amy Hayden.
Visitation will be on Tuesday, Oct. 3 from 4 - 8 p.m. at the Unger Horner Funeral Home, 400 N. Sixth St., Rochelle. Funeral mass will be at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 4 at St. Patrick Catholic Church, 236 Kelley Drive, Rochelle, with Father Joseph P. Naill officiating. Burial will follow at the Lawnridge Cemetery in Rochelle.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Rochelle Food Pantry, Hub City Senior Center or the R.T.H.S. Education Foundation.
An online guest book is available at www.UngerHorner.com.