Born July 18, 1950, in Chicago, Kathy died Thursday December 4, 2025 after a hospitalization. During the last number of years, Kathy faced health challenges with amazing strength, grace and a strong willingness to keep going for herself and those she loved. After graduating from Wheeling High School and attending Northeastern Illinois University, Kathy went on to a successful career in sales in the educational publishing industry, as well as working in the hotel industry in Oregon and Washington state. Later in life, she decided to return to school and went back to Northeastern Illinois University to become a teacher. She spent many years working for the Chicago Public Schools where her talents in helping others shone. After her retirement from teaching, Kathy enjoyed spending her time with family and friends, travelling to Michigan and touring Native American Reservations.
Kathy was dearly loved by her family. She loved her many nieces and nephews as her own, and her life was richer for the young people who adored her — and their lives were brighter because she loved them so much. She is preceded in death by her parents (Martin J O’Donnell and Kathryn J O’Donnell) and her brother (Thomas O’Donnell). She is survived by her siblings Susan O'Donnell of Mount Prospect, Marty (Mary) O'Donnell of Barrington, Jim (Daryl Lynn) O'Donnell of Kansas City and Mary O'Donnell of Barrington; her nieces and nephews Karen (the best one), Tom, Erin, Megan, Kathleen, Amanda, Matthew, Jimmy, Colleen, Michael, Mary, Becca, Martin, Ray, Alexis and Cossette; and her 31 great-nieces and nephews Oliver, Sullivan, Henry, Flynn (“Floyd”), Charlie, Kathryn, Maisy, Tommy, Lilly, Nolan, Dominic, Patrick, Diego, Cora, Declan, Theodora, Rosemary, Addison, Alethea, Zoe, Miriam, Ruth, Nathanael, Mark, Peter, Olivia, Daniel, Katherine, William, Shiloh, Levi and one "Little Angel" on the way.
Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m., Wednesday, December 10, 2025 at the Glueckert Funeral Home, Ltd., 1520 N. Arlington Heights Road, Arlington Heights. Funeral services for Kathy O'Donnell will begin with prayers at 9:30 a.m. Thursday, December 11, 2025 at the Glueckert Funeral Home and proceed to Saint Mary Parish, 10 N. Buffalo Grove Road, Buffalo Grove, for Mass at 10:30 a.m. Burial will be in Saint Mary Parish Cemetery.
For funeral information and condolences, www.GlueckertFH.com or 847-253-0168.
