Kathleen H. (Dillon) Menzies
July 10, 1931 – October 17, 2018
Preceded in death by husband, Arthur J. “Art” Menzies; daughter, Susan E. Hartigan. Survived by children: John (Theresa), Mary Walstrom (John), and Terese Thielen (Shon); son-in-law, Tim Hartigan; grandchildren: Tess and Sophie Menzies, Erin Hartigan, Amy Krupski (Mickey), Stephanie Forristal (John), Kathleen and Ryan Walstrom, Austen and Adeline Thielen; sister-in-law, Jo Dillon; nieces and nephews.
The family will receive friends on Thursday, October 25th from 5pm to 7pm at the West Center Chapel, followed by VIGIL SERVICE at 7pm. MASS OF CHRISTIAN BURIAL: Friday, October 26th at 10am at St. Robert Bellarmine Catholic Church, 11802 Pacific Street. Interment, Calvary Cemetery.
Memorials are suggested to Skutt Catholic High School, St. Robert Bellarmine Catholic Daughters, or Make-A-Wish Foundation.
9 Comments
To a Beautiful Lady; thank you for your generosity, love and laughter. I remember our yearly summer trips to visit Uncle Bud and Aunt Kathleen’s. Uncountable times of family fun, Italian sausages, great stories and unforgettable moments. Godspeed Aunt Kathleen. Until we meet again.
Love and support to all family members.
Aunt Kathleen you had a joyous and infectious laugh that I can still hear. I loved visiting you and Uncle Bud every summer; I loved watching you cook, and make French onion dip for snacking. You are home now, enjoying yourself I am sure with everyone. You will be missed I am sure, but know you loved us all well. See you again Auntie.
Love to all my cousins.
Julie-bugs
To my dear Aunt Kathleen. You made your home welcome to all. I cherish those Omaha trips and memories. You are now welcome into the house of the Lord, where you are together with Uncle Bud and Susan, and many faithful family souls. To my cousins, you always loved your Minnesota cousins totally and welcomed us with open arms. Thank you. We were blessed to be family. Many great summer memories, A Minnesota trip to Lake Superior; summer weeks in Nebraska with Uncle Bud’s fireworks, pizza, impromptu skits , treats, games, most importantly laughter and love. As your family comes together to celebrate your moms life you will be covered in our prayers.
I will always remember Aunt Kathy’s wonderful laugh, a Menzies trait, they all have a unique laugh! I cherish the memories of all our family reunions over the years. My prayers are with the whole family, I know she is with alot of our loved family members once again. Amen!
Kathleen was a friend from St. Roberts and the New Life Group. Recently I would see her at Fountain View then Brookstone Meadows when Divine Mercy Ministry would go to Care Centers to pray with the Residents. Will miss her as she always had a smile and fun to visit with.
Aunt Kathy was a fun person to be with. She had a joyful laugh. She was kind and thoughtful. She comforted me when my parents passed away. She will be missed here, but is now reunited with those who passed on before her. How grateful we are for the eternal life Jesus offers us.
In 1950 I turned eight and became a 3rd grader in Miss Dillon’s first class in Gretna Public School. The school was then set up with two grades in each classroom. We spent our days as default 4th graders and real 3rd graders and reversed that schedule in the next year. In spite of what might be seen as primitive conditions, Miss Dillon had high goals: National tests showed many of us left the 4th grade at high-school reading levels while she taught two grades in every subject in the same room every day.
But she was still more versatile: Gretna lost its Music teacher, in 1950. Two teachers made up our music deficit by holding Sing-Alongs out of the America, We Sing series. The 3rd and 4th grades would move into the 1st and 2nd grade room and sit two-to-each tiny desk. That room held a piano that Miss Dillon could play by sight, without rehearsal. Miss Dillon did the instrumental. The primary teacher led all four grades in the singing. (1 of 2)
I had Kathleen in 52 and 53 for 3rd and 4th grade. She was a great teacher and very warm and friendly. She would melt me with her smiles. Even now I can see her writing on the chalk board and explaining things. She was beautiful inside and out.
(2 of 2) continued…..
It’s a Norman Rockwell memory, mixing songs like the Camptown Races, Oh Suzanna, My Grandfather’s Clock, and Civil War melodies like: Tenting Tonight on the Old Camp Ground, The Battle Hymn of the Republic, When Johnny Comes Marching Home, and many others. Anything lost in the theory of music teaching, these teachers compensated with energetic singing and long-term musical memories.
I think back on those years and how Kathy lived the Norman Rockwell vision of our best people being their best their whole life long. I knew her first as a teacher and then a friend. I am grateful to have had a teacher like Miss Dillon and a friend like Kathy. I hope today’s Gretna students will have such an experience and such an example.
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