Kay Litherland

Of Arlington Heights

Kay Litherland was born on December 11, 1937, in Champaign to Raymond and Dorothy (nee Albietz) Litherland. She passed away peacefully on Tuesday, September 28, 2021, in Arlington Heights, Illinois, with her niece and nephew at her side.

Kay Litherland grew up in the Champaign, Illinois, area and graduated from Urbana High School. She earned a diploma from the Evanston Hospital School of Nursing, a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Northwestern University, and a Master of Science in Nursing Services Administration from the University of Iowa. Kay went on to achieve a distinguished career in the health care field as a Registered Nurse and hospital administrator. Kay worked at Evanston Hospital for over a decade as a staff nurse, head nurse and nursing supervisor. She also served as Director of Maternity and Gynecological Nursing and the University of Illinois at Chicago Hospital and Clinics. Kay then joined Lutheran General Hospital in Park Ridge, where she eventually rose to the position of Vice President, with oversight responsibilities for nursing, social work, pastoral care, pharmacy services and materials management. She developed and implemented nursing quality assurance and clinical services integration programs, among many other accomplishments. Kay took advantage of an opportunity to move east when she accepted a Vice President of Patient Services role with Rhode Island Hospital in Providence. She was responsible for several quality assurance and efficiency initiatives, and later was promoted to Senior Vice President in charge of a hospital restructuring. Nearing retirement, Kay returned to the University of Illinois at Chicago as a Clinical Associate Professor in Nursing and continued to work independently for years as a Patient Services Consultant on various hospital projects throughout the country. In addition to her career achievements, Kay was engaged in many professional activities, including Illinois and Rhode Island task forces and executive committees. She held several educational appointments and was the recipient of multiple nursing honors. Late in life, Kay also served her community on the board of Luther Village in Arlington Heights.

Kay Litherland lived life on her own terms. She was a diehard fan of the Chicago Bears and Chicago Cubs who questioned all management decisions, endured the lows, and celebrated the highs that came along with such fandom. Kay was an avid reader, with history, biographies and mysteries preferred. When asked, Kay once shared that Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand was her favorite title. Kay was a knowledgeable observer of current events and her politics had an unabashed conservative bent. She possessed a quick wit, a dry sense of humor, and wasn't afraid to express her opinion, solicited or not. One knew where one stood with Kay Litherland. She owned numerous Buicks over the decades but her prized possession was her red Lexus, which she loved to drive, to the chagrin of her family in later years. She supported many charitable organizations and had a soft spot for those that cared for neglected animals. Kay was very involved in the lives of her niece, nephew and extended family members. Wonderful holiday memories were made in Rock Island, Rockford, and Arlington Heights over the years, where Kay's background in quality control made her the ultimate arbiter of mashed potatoes preparedness at family meals. Kay's generosity was another consistent hallmark of her life; she shared of her time, her intelligence, her resources, and her love. Beloved Auntie Kay (BAK) - a moniker of her own choosing that was embraced by all - will be dearly missed.

Kay is survived by her niece and nephew, Sarah (James) Appino and Dan (Melodie) Keefe; great-nieces and nephews, Patrick Keefe, Madison Keefe, Jacob Appino, Joseph Appino, and Samantha Appino. She was preceded in death by her parents, and her sister, Ann (Edward) Keefe.

Memorial Visitation Sunday, October 24, 2021, from 1:00 pm, until the 2:00 pm Memorial Service at Glueckert Funeral Home Ltd., 1520 North Arlington Heights Road (four blocks south of Palatine Road), Arlington Heights, IL 60004. Interment is private.

Funeral Information and condolences can be given at www.GlueckertFuneralHome.com or (847) 253-0168.