Katherine "Katie" Wade

Kathryn "Katie" (Kissel) Wade , of Scottsdale, AZ, and a long time former resident of Melrose Park , IL, Park Forest, IL, and San Diego, CA, died peacefully on August 21, 2020. She was born in Melrose Park, IL on April 21, 1927, the youngest of seven children to Lithuanian emigrates Constantine and Kathryn (Gratennatis) Kissel. Her siblings doted on her their whole lives. Brothers Alex, Albert and John and sisters, Helen, Veronica and Stella predeceased her.

Her early education was at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel, in Melrose Park, IL, then high school at the Immaculate Conception in Elmhurst, IL, before transferring to and graduating from the Sacred Heart Academy in Lisle, IL, a private girls boarding school, in 1944.

After high school she got a job at Rand McNally as a secretary, but then the U.S. government came out with the promotional campaign for women to 'COME BE A NURSE." So she and her best friend, Kay Dorsey, went to nurses' school and she graduated from St. Francis in Joliet, IL, with her R.N. certification in 1948. She worked for the Red Cross traveling around the country giving polio shots.

She loved traveling and was on her way to Cuba when she stopped by to see another friend in Baltimore who set her up on a blind date with William "Bill" Wade, who, after that date, suggested she stop through Baltimore on her way back from Cuba. She did. They married on December 26, 1950.

In 1949 Katie had joined the Navy and her and William's first few married years were spent in Oakland, CA. She was discharged from the Navy in 1951 and she and William moved back to Melrose Park, IL.

They are the parents of (and she is survived by) seven children: Michael, (1952), Richard (1953) John (1955), Mary Helen (1960), Margaret (1961), James (1963) and Thomas (1966). Also surviving are 12 grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren.

She worked as a homemaker for 25 years before she went back to work outside of the home. She was a community nurse in Chicago Heights, IL; a surgical nurse at Oak Forest Hospital, in Oak Forest, IL; and a nurse for Anchor Medical in Park Forest, IL.

While she worked outside of the home and managed a household of seven children, she went back to night school to get her bachelors degree from the College of St. Francis in Joliet, IL in 1977. An accomplishment she was very proud of.

Katie and William retired to San Diego in 1988. They found a wonderful home in Point Loma and loved living in California. They were married 57 years until William

passed away from cancer in 2007. They were members of St. Charles Borremeo Catholic Church San Diego, CA and Katie found great peace and solace as a member of St. Charles, Christ Child Society.

Katie was a generous, kind, and honest person with a unique wit. She loved and guided all of her children to be independent and taught them all to think for themselves. She loved her family and friends and gave of herself and her time as much as possible. Everyone who came in contact with her was amazed and impressed with her colorful outlook and attitude. She lived 93 years and we will all miss her and her unusual and always amazing, approach to life. Her life will be celebrated with a mass at St. Charles Borromeo on Friday, October 23, 2020. Interment will follow at Miramar National Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to:

St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church

Christ Child Society 2808 Cadiz Street

San Diego, CA 92110

619.225.8157 https://saintcharlespl.com

Hospice of the Valley

1510 E. Flower St.

Phoenix AZ 85014

602.530.6992 https://hov.org/donate/