Obituary - Kathleen Carol Donnelly

Kathleen Carol Donnelly

December 25, 1943 - September 6, 2023

With sadness, we share the news that Kathie Donnelly of Richmond, VA passed away surrounded by her family after many years of health issues. She is predeceased by her parents, Elmer and Rosemary Jirovec and is survived by her children Erin Sams (Alan) and Scott Donnelly (Sabrina), and her grandchildren Abigail Sams and Dylan Donnelly.

Born in Cleveland, Ohio, Kathie grew up among many close-knit extended family members. She graduated from Marymount Catholic High School in Garfield Heights, Ohio in 1961 and soon relocated to Washington, D.C. to pursue a potential career as a flight attendant. She quickly realized that this was the wrong career choice and moved back to Cleveland where she took a job at the Navy Department. Kathie married in 1964 and relocated back to the Washington, D.C. area where she worked for American Airlines at National Airport. When Kathie became a mom, she decided to stay home to care for her children at her home in Oakton, Virginia. About this time, she realized that her lifelong dream was to become a nurse. Kathie spent many years working as a school nurse at Marshall Road Elementary, Hughes Intermediate, and South Lakes High School in Fairfax County. Upon retirement, Kathie relocated to Richmond, Virginia to be closer to her daughter and took great joy in watching her granddaughter Abigail as an infant, who later would affectionately refer to her as Yetta. After many years of debilitating health issues, Kathie became a resident of Our Lady of Hope Nursing Center where she made friends with many other residents and staff.

Kathie loved to travel, cook for anyone who would let her, and enjoyed the performing arts. Kathie never met a stranger, was a friend to all she met, and was a constant source of unintentional entertainment. She will be missed by all those who had the privilege to know her.

Family will receive friends at Bliley's Funeral Home, 8510 Staples Mill Road Henrico, VA 23228, on Saturday, September 16th, from 1:00-2:00 PM, followed by a memorial service beginning at 2:00 PM. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in her memory to the Arthritis Foundation (arthritis.org), the American Heart Association (heart.org), or to Our Lady of Hope Nursing Center in Richmond, Virginia