Kathleen Ward Van Zile

Kathleen Ward Van Zile passed away at the age of 69 on March 22, 2023 at Brookdale Southpoint Assisted Living Facility in Jacksonville, Florida, where she had lived for almost four years, enduring a stroke a little over one year ago. Katie’s life was well-lived, filled with family, friends, colleagues, fun times, and multiple accomplishments. Beloved wife, daughter, sister, aunt, niece, cousin and friend, she will be sorely missed and is forever in our hearts. She is lovingly remembered by all for her friendly, outgoing, generous nature, her fierce love and support, strong moral character, love of nature and dogs, her talents and passions (music, guitar, singing, song writing, fishing, crabbing, boating, travel, ability to have fun), and her many contributions to public health in the State of Florida and beyond.

Kathleen was born 3rd of 4 siblings to Mary Rose Love and Hugh Campbell Ward at St. Vincent’s Hospital in Jacksonville, Florida. Katie was a child of God, growing up in a strongly Catholic family in Jacksonville, attending Christ the King Catholic School where her mother was a teacher, librarian and eventually principal. Her father was an aviation mechanic and supervisor at NAS Jax. Katie attended Bishop Kenny Catholic High School. After graduation in 1971, she attended Jacksonville University, then later proceeded to Southeast Tennessee State in Johnson City, receiving a master’s degree in public health. Her expertise was in tracking vectors of disease. Later, she was an Inspector and Department Head for the Florida State Department of Health, headquartered in Jacksonville from 1978 to 2014, and retiring after 36 years of service. She was well known and respected throughout Florida, and often travelled to give speeches and presentations. She frequently recounted hilarious tales, including some where she was sent undercover to try to track down the vectors of an outbreak of food-borne illness. She even credibly posed as an oyster fisherman, working with them on the job until she discovered the source of the disease. Katie’s experiences and out-going personality made her a great raconteur! Many have laughed over her exploits.

One of the most joyful events of her life was her marriage to Frank Van Zile on November 5, 2006. Katie and Frank went on many adventures: fishing in the back woods of Alaska and in Mexico. They purchased boats for their many local fishing adventures. They both loved animals, both dogs and cats. Katie had dogs from the time she was a child. Her first dog was Ringo. A series of beloved dogs followed: Clancy, Molly, Murphy, and Bella. Frank and Katie loved and took great care of and enjoyed them together. Frank is a great cook, and they hosted many family holiday gatherings with delicious offerings of good food and fun.

Katie early in life learned to appreciate her paternal southern North Carolina heritage and her maternal Irish roots. She spent much time with Granny Gordon and her paternal relations in western North Carolina and Jacksonville. She saw her maternal relatives when they visited or when she took trips to New York, Chicago, and County Donegal, Ireland. Later in life, Katie hosted her Irish cousins in Jacksonville. The Ward family frequently hosted extended family members from New York, Chicago, Ireland, and North Carolina, and Katie grew up in this strong family embrace. She became the “memory” for all Ward and Moohan family relations and information. Katie, and brother Pat, even took a car trip west to Oregon to see paternal Great Uncle George Sprouse.

Katie’s talents and passions included reading, learning about the natural world, love of music, the guitar, singing and song writing. She loved folk music, popular music, and Irish music. Betty Saitta, her neighbor, told a story recently of one of her last visits to see Katie in the assisted living facility. During the visit, a musician came into Katie’s room to play some Irish music. Katie began to pat Betty’s hand and smiled and moved to the beat of the music, enlivening her demeanor. Katie wrote a song about Michael Damato, a family friend, which she sang and played with guitar accompaniment at family and friend gatherings. She was a popular performer, playing guitar and singing at a rooftop restaurant on Castillo Drive in St. Augustine for several years. Katie was also famous for her great parties, especially her wonderful St. Patrick’s Day parties. Those were happy memories with which she regaled family and friends.

When all the Ward children were still at home many of the activities were centered around three families who bonded due to their WWII military careers: the Damato, Marseilles, and Ward families. There were frequent celebrations around holidays and weekends with 7 adults and 9 kids and other friends with dancing, music, games, food, and friendship. Katie often recalled fun activities such as crabbing at Guana Lake, fishing, and boating by telling hilarious stories of the hijinks that ensued.

Kathleen is predeceased by her parents, Hugh and Mary Ward, brothers Patrick and Thomas Ward. She is survived by her husband Frank Van Zile, her brother Hugh Campbell Ward, Jr., nephew Hugh Campbell Ward, III, niece Mary Love Ward McCollough, Uncle Jerry Clay Gordon, and many cousins in Florida, North Carolina, the Chicago area, the New York area, and Ireland.

On Saturday, April 22, 2023 there will be a Funeral Mass at Christ the King Catholic Church at 742 Arlington Road, Jacksonville, Florida 32211 at 10:00 a.m. with Monsignor James R. Boddie, Jr. officiating. A reception will follow at the church in Shirley David Hall by the Ministry of Hope. There is no graveside service at this time. In lieu of flowers, please contribute to a charity of your choice or to Christ the King Catholic Church.