Kathleen Marie Mansfield 1959-2004
As you know, Kathleen loved being in local city government and most importantly loved sharing the profession with schoolkids and graduate students who wanted to follow her into her noble (but often misunderstood) profession. She was usually the first to invite new professionals into the "old boys club" and to welcome them into their professional associations. She also knew that through outreach and diversity, her chosen profession would be stronger than ever.
The Foundation will continue that spirit.
- November 19 - the East West Gateway Council of Governments awarded Kathleen their Lifetime Achivement Award. See the Post below and on the Rodger Report.
- Kathy and Rodger's Anniversary is October 12. Read the Story at the RodgerReport HERE.
- Read the story about Kathleen posted on the Scleroderma Network website. You can read the story HERE
- The City of Creve Coeur ran a very fitting tribute story about Kathleen in their August city newsletter. Read the article HERE (PDF)
The new Rodger Report is now open. This new blog has my regular ramblings about my new life, observations and even a technology tip now and then. I'll also use it to fill in some of the blanks that I don't share here on the KathyReport.
I started this "blog" (web log) first as a way to share Kathy's condition while in ICU. But I know this can be a way for Kathleen's family and friends to celebrate her life and share their memories of her with all of us. You'll find the most recent posts on this front page. Use the navigation links on the left to see earlier posts by date this week and the monthly archive. You'll see that this entry is dated Sept 19 (Kathy's bday) so that this entry stays at the top of the page.
You'll see that there are places you can post comments. Just click the link that says "comments" after most posts to share your thoughts with those who know and love Kathleen too. Remember to post only information you want others to read online.
For access to an online slideshow of Kathy photos, please send me an email rjmans@swbell.net. Please let me know who you are and I will send you back a link. My email has a spam blocker that may ask you to respond.
Please also feel free to share this website with others: http://kathyreport.blogspot.com
If you need to talk to me, email me at rjmans@swbell.net (my email has a spam blocker so you may have to respond to its challenge) I'll get back to you as soon as I can. Sorry I can't post the other contact info to the blog site...
Thank you for your thoughts, your assistance and your prayers during this time.
Rodger and family
Can't hear the music? Click HERE.
8 comments:
I just found out that Kathy was in ICU. I can't believe I was so out of touch. I have been praying for Kathy everyday including rosaries, lifting her up at prayer groups & placing her on prayer chains for at least 4 years now. I met Kathy when I was facilitating small faith sharing groups at Sacred Heart during PSR. I have held Kathy in my heart for many years. I have been on retreat with her for the last 4 years and look forward to many more. I know Kathy will not give up & neither will I. I am blessed having Kathy in my life.
Kathy and Rodger,
My prayers are with you as you continue what seems to be a never ending journey. My daughter Pamela Meyer was in a serious accident last July and was in the hospital for 3 months with two trips to ICU. She is still recovering from a serious brain injury, but she is recovering wonderfully. Through the prayers and support of Sacred Heart's parish family, they were and continue to be my strenght and encouragement during this most difficult time. I hope you draw strenght from their prayers and let that spirit of their love envelop your heart, soul and spirit. I will pray for your speedy recovery, Kathy and for your continued strength, Rodger. The power of prayer is awesome.
Denise Davis
Business Manager - Sacred Heart
From Mark and Lesley Levin:
HOORAY! We have been silently following Kathy's progress and have been deeply moved by Roger's empathy and love for her. This is very good news today and we hope and pray that Kathy will be home soon. Lesley Has been saying a healing prayer for Kathy at Temple each week for the last 50 weeks. I think it is working.
Rodger/Kathy - You are a great family. I have always admired the way you treat each other and are so focused on your boys. What is happening to Kathy is very sad and I am very sorry to see it happen. The silver lining is the way you all are handling things and the wonderful example it is setting for the rest of us. You are both courageous in the face of a terrible situation. I take comfort from your example and strength. My prayers and thoughts are with you.
Rodger
Susie and I are praying to give strength to you and Kathy.
Len & Susie Corzine
Rodger and Family,
I worked very briefly on a project for Corn Growers Assoc. and became aware of this site to stay current on the news about Kathy. I wanted to say how very sorry I am for your loss! I also wanted to share a story, and tell you how much just reading about how brave Kathy and your family have been has touched and inspired me.
Kathy's story reminded me very much of something I went through all too recently with my mother...
My mom was diagnosed with Lupus back in 1997 at the age of 56. She fought it tooth and nail for a good 6 years, but as the disease (and the constant medicine experimentations) took their toll on her, you could just see a steady decline. In addition to the skin lesions, she suffered a broken hip, fractured vertibrae, a stroke, several bouts of pneumonia and various digestive track complications. In her last three years, she was in the hospital more than she was home. But she never quit fighting. In that time, she managed to see me get married, buy my first house and bring her first grandchild into the world (she loved her more in one year than I think most people are loved in a whole lifetime).
With all my mom's struggles, we knew she wouldn't be with us forever. We had to brace ourselves for that one thing that she wouldn't be able to over come. It turned out that that thing was a sore in her foot that wouldn't go away. The sore allowed an infection to get into her blood. Towards the end, she was heavily sedated so that she could be on the ventilator. The hardest thing I have ever had to do was bring in my daughter to see her grandma one last time, even though my mom was totally unconcious and couldn't see anything. I didn't cry the whole 6 years until that moment, because I knew how much my mom loved Julia, and I knew how much it would've meant to her to open her eyes one more time and see her granddaughter smiling at her. So, as I was reading about Kathy, I was so happy for her and you all that you got to look into her eyes one more time, to let her know that she was loved, and that everything was going to be ok. I would've given anything for that chance for my mom. I hope that knowing how strong Kathy was to be able to fight through everything she had going on, to have that chance to communicate with you one more time, is of some comfort to you as you go through the grieving process.
And lastly, know too that Kathy has touched people that she has never even met! She sounds like she was a very amazing person! Thank God for the time you got to spend with her, and thank God for every minute you have with everyone you love!
Again, my sympathies, and Gob bless!
Kevin Nahm
read your blog, think you'd be really interested in this website
I knew Kathy in highschool and I'm so sorry to hear she has passed. I'm so happy to hear that she had a good life and a great family.
Art
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