I extend my deepest condolences to Elizabeth and her family on the passing of her mother. I met Kathleen and her family at the Chicago airport back in 2003 as they were flying to Italy for a tour as I was solo and also doing the same. They were very cordial to me and treated me as a member of their family.
 I know the feeling of losing a loved one since losing my wife of 55 years on October 10,2018. The Drury family will be in my prayers.

John A. Iennusa
Madisonville, Louisiana

I worked with Kathy in the English department. She was a wonderful mentor and colleague; I always enjoyed her warm sense of humor and her sharp intellect—she was one the people in the department. Will always have great memories of her!

A picture from our club team that Mrs. Drury coached. We were all so lucky to have her as our coach. 

I have been struggling to put into words what  Mrs. Drury meant to me. She was my coach from 3rd grade through senior year in high school. While volleyball was and still is such a big part of my life, Mrs. Drury was more important. She wasn’t just a coach but a mentor, a second mom, a teacher and a friend. She taught me almost everything I know about the game but more importantly taught me so much about life- how to be a teammate, a friend, a hard worker and of course how to properly use the English language. She pushed us, had high expectations for us and celebrated with us. My life wouldn’t be the same if I never had Mrs Drury as my coach. My words aren’t enough but I am eternally grateful for the impact she had on my life. 

Grief can feel heavy, it can feel lonely, and it can feel sad. But whenever I find myself getting sad. I think of the advice that mom would give me.  I know EXACTLY what mom would want. She would want us to go on in her absence, she’d want us to keep traditions, she would want us to say, “mom was right”, she would want us to go to the beach. But maybe most of all, she would want us to SMILE. 



The warm memories of our traditions won’t be outweighed by Mom’s strength of character. She was the strongest person I have ever met. And not because I only saw her cry a handful of times.  Her strength of conviction was extraordinary, she was so smart. I heard my Grandma telling the hospice nurse how she was such a wonderful child, always had her nose in a book. Many of us have heard my mom say, “I’m always right”. And although she mostly said it in jest, when she was giving advice, she really was usually right.
Those closest to my mom will agree that if you needed advice about something important, you could always count on her to be both logical and thoughtful and often quite blunt. She was so easy to talk to about anything. As a kid I remember her always on the phone. Students, friends, relatives, would call and talk to mom for hours. She was an advisor and a teacher not only to her students and the athletes she coached, but to anyone who had the good sense to know how special her input was. My brother and I would call her at the end of each day to vent or talk about the various things going on in our lives. I know this because I’d be talking to her and hear the click of another call coming in… she’d say, “that’s your brother calling”.  Most of the time, that meant she was getting off the phone with me to talk to him. He was her favorite. But she took me to Italy, twice, so maybe I was her favorite. We’ll never really know. Mom secretly loved this argument between Michael and I. (I can see the tight-lipped smile on her face.) 
There are instances in our life that can only be chalked up to divine intervention. My adoption was just that. The chances of my biological mom walking into Mom’s life was, for me, a miracle. Everything I am, and all the people that surround me are due to that moment.
Mom was ok with being alone. She liked to send me home at the end of the day when she was in the hospital. She’d say, “ok go away now, I’m tired” or “I’m gonna watch Jeopardy 

When we would talk about doing a secret santa she would say do whatever you want I’m going to buy everyone something., she’d say, “don’t you think it’s nice? It’s how people know that you are thinking of them”. I have so many fond memories of mom putting me to work decorating her house while listening to Christmas music. Watching Hallmark movies together while wrapping all of the seemingly, 100s of presents she bought for every single person in her life.
The time spent traveling with my mom over the years is the biggest gift she ever gave me. Not because of the money spent or the places we visited, but the feelings those vacations evoked. She was always in a good mood and made even the long car rides seem like part of the fun. In the car we would play trivia games, stop at rest areas (she loved rest areas), and laugh at each other, a lot! We went all over the place traveling for volleyball, but the summer was never complete without a trip to the beach. Mom loved the ocean. Mom loved to travel. There is a picture of her in Venice on a gondola looking around the city, using her hands to express whatever sentiment she was feeling. That picture is what will come to my mind any time I think of her. She so enjoyed life and all of the people in it. She had the ability to always find the positive side of things and she made sure to highlight them as often as possible. I can hear her talking about how she loved my neighborhood, or my home, or how I worked with such nice people, how wonderful all of her grandkids are. ..She loved to talk about her grandkids, she was so proud of them. She could spend hours talking about them, their struggles, their different personalities, the wonderful things they were accomplishing and the pure joy that each one of them brought to her. They all have a guardian angel watching over them wearing a huge smile on her face. 


My mom taught me so many things throughout my life. When I think about her I can’t help but smile and even laugh a little. The repetition that I used to find so annoying, leaves me now with the warmest memories of her. “Who’s your favorite aunt”…something I know all of my cousins can attest to hearing over the years.  “It’s just what we do” when challenged to venture outside any box and try something new. Which also serves to highlight her love of traditions. “No, I don’t like that” [insert name of food or drink, typically something healthy or green. We would ask, have you ever tried it? She would say, No but I know I won’t like it. Mike and I lived in my mom’s basement while we looked for a house. “Mmm, what smells so good” she would say every single time Mike and I cooked her dinner. At the time we would roll our eyes. But, it was her way of thanking us for a meal and encouraging us to continue cooking for her! I know she loved having us there.  I can still hear her walking through her house on Olde Silver those deliberate heal first footsteps.   We would always make fun of these little quirks about her… “Kathyisms” as we called them. She would laugh at herself so hard until her eyes would water and she would need to take off her glasses and use a kleenex. I’m positive that so many of you in this room can picture mom doing exactly that. Mom had the ability to never take herself too seriously. She would conclude all of her email communications with “Smile” followed by her signature.
Christmas Eve, it’s hard to think about mom without thinking about Christmas Eve. This was mom’s favorite day of the year. Maybe because it’s the day her sister, Jan was born! But for mom, it was just what life was all about. The whole big, crazy family getting together and celebrating at her house. She loved having everyone under one roof. Oh and presents, mom loved buying people presents and she loved getting presents! It was her love language. When we would talk about doing a secret 

My Mom said when Kathy was growing up she always had a book in her hand. We used to kid her that she never new any songs in the radio cuz she would rather be reading, always gaining knowledge. She was so smart and interested in currant events. She had strong opinions on things and usually had the facts to back them up, and we all know Kathy was always right!
Kathy loved her children Mike and Liz anx especially her grandkids Maddie, Louis, Frankie , Izzy and Ford. They are the lives of her life.
Family was Kathys zest for life, she hosted every Christmas Eve far as long as I can remember and always made sure everyone had a gift.
She was loved by all her nieces and nephews always quizzing them Whos your favorite Aunt.
Kathy was the glue of our family. She invited us to many Sunday dinners and loved to play games.
We could count on her for anything.
Kathy loved to travel, she took many trips with Mary to Vegas and with Barb and brother Dave and Debbie.
She loved family vacations especially to the beach she was determined to go to Destin even as she went thru chemo.
I looked up to my big sister. We talked almost every day.I would ask her advice and she always had positive things to say.
I was Kathys stem cell match and was both honored and scared to help , any of us siblings would have done it but I was happy it was me as I wanted to help in any way I could.
Kathy led the best life she had many friends to show for it.
Kathy gave it her all until her poor body could take no more.she never complained and always tried to smile.
You dear sister will be greatly missed and forever be in our heats. Rest In Peace, love Joyce

Kathy was my dear friend since kindergarten. I loved spending the night at her house.  I remember the time her mother fed us cold left over spaghetti and meatball  sandwiches.  As we got older we enjoyed Teen Towns on Sunday evenings.  In fact, that is where we met our husbands. Kathy always attracted the boys. Just a little flirtatiousness with her beautiful blue eyes and vivacious personality. Vivacious - that was Kathy’s defining character trait - full of life.
While in High School we both had jobs at a answering machine service in University City.   We giggled and talked about our boyfriends in-between phone messages.    One beautiful autumn day we were just walking around the Hill and all of a sudden a car drove by with loud teenage boys honking the horn. We turned to see who it was and right there, up against the window was a bare butt.   This jester mooning was quite popular during the late 60’s. 
Our friendship grew and grew.  
We were in each other’s weddings and she was my maid-of -honor.   
     In 2014 we traveled to Germany, France and Italy with Kathy and another dear friend Barb. It was the best trip and to travel with life long friends made it extra special. So many wonderful memories
I will cherish. For at least the last 12 years we had our very special game/dinner date. As most of you know, Kathy loved playing games.  You name the game….Kathy played it. There were 6 of us, but My husband was not a game player and Kathy would somehow talk Steve into playing ! 
I was so happy you could celebrate our 50th wedding anniversary party in July, 2021.  

My dear friend, you will be missed so much. I can’t imagine living out the rest of my life without you.   
Patty Ringkamp.  💔

I met Kathy when we were both in high school, but I know her best as my sister Mary's best friend of more than 50 years. I had the pleasure of spending time with Kathy when I stayed at her home several times when I traveled to St. Louis for family events and when she and my sister stayed with me some years ago when they came to visit me in San Diego. It was always so fun to spend time with Kathy. She was very funny, kind, and generous. She was also very smart and knowledgeable about many topics, and we had some really great conversations and debates about current events and topics in the news. I will miss you, Kathy, and I will always be especially grateful for the incredible friendship you shared with my sister.  

Kathy and I graduated together from St. Ambrose grade school on the Hill and I will always remember her as one of the smartest in our class and always so friendly. Kathy, like her mother Dolores, was one of those special people you just loved being around and when you met her you were friends for life. Jan and I always enjoyed our time together with Kathy and will miss her dearly. We loved her smile and boundless enthusiasm, her kindness, that twinkle in her eye and her honest and straightforward point of view , which she was never shy about sharing. It's no surprise that she battled her health issues with such toughness and class! Thank you for your gift of friendship Kathy.
Rich & Jan

I will miss Kathy so much.  We depended on her professionally, of course, but beyond her outstanding work she was also so genuine and warm and wonderful.  It still hasn't completely sunk in that she won't be popping by my office to say hi this fall. Her ready smile and positive outlook will be deeply missed.  

Kathy was a wonderful colleague of more than a decade, always offering guidance and a smile.  Her legacies are many, large and small, but all reveal her consistent, energetic  attention to the smallest details that make things work well and people feel appreciated.  For example, when she retired and  tapped me to inherit her excellent course on the Art of Rhetoric,  she prepared everything for me in neat folders and ready-to-go textbooks, all collected in a convenient roller bag she'd found at Tuesday Morning on a bargain.  I've taught that course every semester since, always remembering and thanking Kathy in my mind, as I rolled that bag along the bumpy paths at WashU.  I think she would be pleased to know my daughter is a current first-year student at her alma mater, Rosati-Kain.   My heartfelt condolences.

Kathy & I started our friendship over 30 yrs ago while playing volleyball  on an adult mixed team. As we aged, that group turned into a dinner club & is still going. Over the last few months we have become very close, mostly because I had the privilege to be part of her at home care. We had many long talks about nothing and everything. Being very comfortable with Kathy and having these talks will be what I cherish the most. She was one in a million!
Rest In Peace my dear friend.  Until we meet again, Sandy

Kathy and I met in gym class when we were freshman at Rosati-Kain. The first thing we talked about was boys-we were both pretty boy crazy.  Occasionally we would skip gym class and go across the street to the Cathedral to smoke. We have been best friends since then. 

It’s obvious why she had so many great friends. She was fun, kind, generous, and just a wonderful person. No matter what we did, we had fun. She gave the best presents. I have so many “friend” gifts from her. Everyone should be so blessed to have a truly lifelong friend like Kathy. 

She was the best advice giver in the whole world. She was so smart, and no matter what she said, in my eyes it was correct. The joke in my family was “well, if Kathy said so” it must be right.  If she ever was wrong  - which happened very rarely - I would love saying, “I love it when you are wrong” 

Playing spades was a big part of our life. We played on the plane, and when she would win she would get her big, sparkly smile and say, “take a picture and send it to my kids.”

Family was everything to Kathy. She was so proud of her kids and grandkids and loved to go on vacations with them. I was so lucky that she included me in her family functions and made me feel like a part of her family. 

We traveled so much. We loved going to the beach and bobbing in the waves with her family.  We went many times to Vegas, almost always to celebrate her birthday - but other times just because we could.  We loved to go to the shows, play the penny slots, get excited if we won $100 or more because we would give each other 20% of the wins, and drink strawberry daiquiris. We had so many happy traditions together. Michael and Liz would sometimes laugh because we always ate at the same places in Vegas and Kathy would say, “it’s what we do”.

Life will not be the same without Kathy. I miss you so much, my friend ❤️

Kathy was my mom Mary's best friend for my whole life, and so when Michael was born only 10 days after me he was one of my best friends all through grade school.  I spent so many nights at their place as a kid and have 1000 random good memories. Here are a dozen or so of them.  (1) Her house was the first place I ever ate Dean's French Onion Dip, starting a lifelong love affair between me and whoever Dean is. (2) It was where we sat around the kitchen table and laughed when Jeff Ermold asked "what are mozzarella cheese sticks made out of?" (3) It was where I learned the phrase "heads I win, tails you lose" when we tried it out on Elizabeth so that Mike and I could keep playing video games on the family room TV (it didn't work). (4). I still know their phone number by heart.  (5) I remember catching crawdads in the creek behind the house, (6) and riding a slip and slide down the back hill, (7) and walking to Ben Franklin for penny candy, (8) and heading up to the end of the cul de sac to play with Ned and Julie, (9) and goofing around in the fun space under the basement stairs, (10) and awkwardly watching movies with Assumption girls in the basement in junior high. (11) When I imagine myself back there, the garage door is perpetually open and Boomer is hanging out in the driveway to greet everyone and the whole day is in front of us to explore and play and have fun.  It was a place that felt like home, and Kathy felt like a mom. (12)  Now that I think about it, EVERY adult in my life as a kid was "Mr." or "Mrs." with few exceptions.  But she was Kathy because it would have been weird to call her Mrs. Drury.
[Here comes the sappy closer] Sometimes when I wake up at night and I can't easily get back to sleep I close my eyes and "walk" around familiar and comforting places.  There are only a few that I can reliably navigate each nook and cranny.  That great house on Olde Silver is one.  I'm so lucky to have had a safe and nurturing place like that.  Thanks, Kathy.

Kathy had the office next to mine when I arrived to teach at Wash U in 2007, and she was so full of energy and care for her students (some of which she transferred toward me, which was greatly appreciated!).  No-nonsense in a good way, but also always laughing, she was a wonderful presence in the hallways of Duncker.  Please accept my condolences, and I'm sure you know her memory is treasured by many.

To the family of Kathleen Ruth Drury,

My condolences to you on the loss of a treasured one. 
 Although I didn't know Kathy well, we were colleagues for a number of years and I always enjoyed our conversations in the hallways or in her office.  It was so evident how much she cared for her students, how devoted she was to the profession, and just how nice a person she was.  Thank you for sharing her with us.  Sincerely, Rafia Zafar

We always had a great time on our game nights. It seemed we could all hold our own unless the game was Scrabble!!
Kathy knew ALL the two letter words there were!  But always fun and always laughing. 
Miss you Kathy so much. 
Love, Larry and Kathy Bumbicka 

Who did I call when I got into a car accident after sneaking out at 3am? My favorite aunt of course. Forever grateful for the advice, laughs, and memories <3

Kathy, we shared so much over the years - raising our families together, coaching volleyball, many trips, movies and dinners .  Luckily these are cherished memories.  
I admired your confidence, intellect, and enthusiasm.   You will always be my friend.  

Kathy I will miss our dinners together and our game nights and so many more memories starting with the dinner club many many years ago .
You will be missed by so many.  


OBITUARIO

Kathleen Ruth Drury

22 octubre, 1949 – 12 agosto, 2022

Hoffmeister South County Chapel

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