Kathleen was educated at Mercy Nursing School and put her career on hold to start a family. Together she and her husband, Joe, founded Lakeside Drugs where she worked endless hours helping to run the business. When her children were in high school, she began working as a registered nurse at East Jefferson General Hospital. After 20 years, she retired from nursing and enjoyed spending time with her family and traveling. But perhaps her greatest role was caring for Joe during the final decade of his life. She devoted herself to him with extraordinary love, patience, and tenderness, drawing on both her nursing skills and more importantly, her deep love for her husband.
A devout Catholic, Kathleen’s faith was not only professed but practiced daily, carried in prayer and in service. For more than 50 years she was a parishioner of St. Angela Merici Catholic Church, where she also cared for the Liturgical Linens. She was a member of St. Angela Ladies Auxiliary(SALA) and the Elenian Club.
At the heart of Kathleen’s life was her family. She adored them without reservation and cherished her role as “Mamare” to her grandchildren and great-grandson. Her love was felt in the meals she prepared for family, friends, and neighbors; in the garden she tended; and in reading, crocheting, knitting, and sharing laughter over cards, mahjong and bunco with friends.
Kathleen is survived by her daughter, Maria Briuglio Perez (David); her sons, Brian Briuglio (Megan) and Paul Briuglio (Cristen); her grandchildren, Jeanne Hebert (Andrew), Mary Kathleen Grundmeyer (Luke), Katie Scott (Payne), Emily Carver (Caden), Brandon Briuglio, Evan Perez, and Allison Briuglio; her great-grandchild, William Hebert; her sister and best friend, Jean Williams; and her sister-in-law, Karen Briuglio. Also survived by nieces, nephew, cousins and friends.
Kathleen was preceded in death by her spouse of 57 years, Joseph Peter Briuglio; her parents, Mary Ellen Frentz and Louis Beard Williams Jr.; and her brother-in-law, Sam Briuglio Sr.
Visitation will be held at Our Lady of the Holy Rosary Church, 3368 Esplanade Ave, New Orleans, LA, on September 26, 2026, from 11:00 am until Mass begins at 1:00 pm. Graveside inurnment will follow in Metairie Cemetery, New Orleans, LA
The family would like to give special thanks to Dr. Richard Airhart, Dr. Sneha Samant, Dr. Gary Menszer, as well as EJ Hospital doctors, nurses, and staff. We would like to extend our heartfelt gratitude to the caregivers at the care home where she spent the last few months of her life. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Cancer Crusaders at www.cancercrusadersla.org/donate or Bridge House at www.bridgehouse.org/donate.
