Kathryn Bressler

Kathryn Bressler (Kathy, Kath, Mom, and most importantly, Mimi) was born on June 29, 1958, in Belleville, New Jersey, and later moved to Severna Park, Maryland where she attended high school.

She went on to the University of Maryland where she majored in Physical Education and worked in Physical Education in many different capacities after graduation (soccer coach, lacrosse coach, gymnastics teacher, substitute teacher, and then full-time teacher).

She is survived by her husband, Iric; her four children, Meagan (Patrick) Early, Colleen (Marc) Mantey, Iric (Katlyn) Bressler Jr., and Kevin (Rachel) Bressler; and her nine grandchildren, Brooke, Ace, Lincoln, Miles, Owen, Emilia, Callan, Caleb, and Violet who meant the world to her.

She is also survived by her three sisters, Anne, Betsy, and Aileen; her step-siblings, Lynne, Christie, and David; and her stepmother, Joan Schmitz.

On March 10, 1984, Kathy married the love of her life, Iric Bressler, and together they built a family that was, without question, her greatest joy and proudest achievement. They traveled the world together, covering both coasts of the United States, Hawaii, and Japan, and created a community in every place they called home.

Kathy could do anything. She taught hundreds of students at Kate Waller Barrett Elementary, sewed Halloween costumes from scratch, sailed boats to islands in the Atlantic Ocean, baked Christmas cookies for the entire neighborhood, skied mountains, taught her kids to change tires, ran miles (and miles and miles), and still made it to the dance studio, riding lessons, concert venue, soccer field, and lacrosse field to support every one of her children and grandchildren. As her husband likes to say: “Kathy could fit 10 pounds into a 5-pound bag” and that extended into every area of her life. Kathy fit as much as she possibly could into every single day.

If you needed something done, you called Kathy (and she'd probably already done it). No task was too big, and no occasion too small. She celebrated every birthday and holiday with an enthusiasm that let people know they truly mattered.

Kathy wasn't sentimental, and she'd be the first to roll her eyes at a long speech about how thankful everyone was for her presence in their lives, but everyone who knew her felt unmistakably loved. She had a sharp wit, a great eye for a good deal, a terrible taste in wine, and an uncanny ability to make sure everyone around her had exactly what they needed, often before they knew they needed it.

Her family will miss her terribly and cannot wait until they see her again.

Please join us for Kathy’s Celebration of Life on Saturday March 28th at 1pm at Leesylvania State Park in Woodbridge, Shelter 2. Casual attire please.

The family is working with Sue, at Brandon's Flowers of Occoquan https://brandonsflowers.net/ if anyone would like to send flowers.