Kathryn Louise DeGesualdo

Born May 10, 1957, in Phoenix, Arizona to the late Eugene and Dorothy Grafinger. She attended Shaw Butte elementary and was among the first graduating class from Thunderbird High School in 1957.

Much like the resilient desert flowers that bloom admits the daunting heat of Arizona, Kathy was a captivating beauty. She had an ability to hold onto hope and persist in positivity despite life’s unforeseen sorrows.

She often talked about her youth with fondness, recounting pool parties with friends, a garage fridge stocked with Pepsi and a cupboard overflowing with snacks. High school weekends were filled with carefree hours on the lake waterskiing and laughing with classmates.

Throughout Kathy’s formative years the most life changing was 1973 when she accepted Jesus Christ as her Lord and Savior, while at church camp in Steamboat Springs, Colorado. Her affinity for Colorado was twofold, as growing up, her family spent President’s Day weekend on holiday skiing with her cousins. As many Colorado natives know, Colorado will leave you wanting more, so in 1979 Kathy made her first big move to Longmont, Colorado.

She was a gifted seamstress at a young age and although she didn’t pursue an education in fashion, she always had an eye for it. Among the clothes that she sewed for herself and her children, she was the go-to for prom dress hemming’s and “Stuffy-mender.”

Kathy had the ability to transform any living space into a cohesive work of art; many friends and family sought her help in designing and decorating their homes. Her own home was a haven of warmth and comfort. Her hospitality carried over in the love that she poured into her cooking and baking, both of which she was excellent at. She could cure the blues with one bite of her delicious scotcharoos! But especially noteworthy was her signature green chili recipe.

The “Ber” months were her favorite, though Christmas was the crowning season of her heart. Her Christmas tree was a masterpiece; the magic that she created for her family during the advent season was unforgettable and will be hard to match. Nevertheless, her grandchildren have set their hearts on carrying that magic in her honor.

Kathy was a devoted and selfless mother to Ashlee Hecht-Nielsen and Morgen DeGesualdo. A loving mother-in-law to Van Hecht-Nielsen and the most treasured Nani to her Grandchildren. They gave her a renewed energy and sense of purpose. She was endlessly looking forward to attending the next football, basketball or soccer game, track meet, or ballet recital. Family was her greatest life work. Kathy comprehended and put to action Christs’ teaching that happiness was not attained by what others could offer, but by how one poured their life into others.

She is preceded in death by her parents, Eugene and Dorothy Grafinger. She is survived by her two children Ashlee (Van) Hecht-Nielsen of Loveland, Colorado; Morgen DeGesualdo of Loveland, Colorado; and her 13 grandchildren, Adrianna DeGesualdo, Tobias Hecht-Nielsen, Augustine Hecht-Nielsen, Sebastien Hecht-Nielsen, Emmeric Hecht-Nielsen, Magnus Hecht-Nielsen, Athanasius Hecht-Nielsen, Eirena Hecht-Nielsen, Estelle Hecht-Nielsen, Eulalia Hecht-Nielsen, Hadassah Hecht-Nielsen, Cassian Hecht-Nielsen and Saveria Hecht-Nielsen; Kathryn is also survived by her sisters Debbie McBride and Amy Grafinger.

Also, her lifelong “Frezin” Melissa Lyons and loyal friend Margaret Strong, both of whom walked alongside her as she navigated the unanticipated, arduous storm of the last three years and were a support to her family as she bravely battled her illness since her diagnosis in December of 2025.