Obituary of Kathleen R. DeJohn

“Toots / Mrs. D / Mama Huss” Kathleen R. DeJohn, 67, of Erie, went home to the Lord on Friday, September 18, 2015, at UPMC Hamot Hospital. She was born in Erie, Pennsylvania, on September 24, 1947, the daughter of the late Stephanie (Urban) and Walter Christensen. She was surrounded by her entire family as she entered into eternal life. Kathy was a lifelong Erie resident. She attended Burns Elementary School, Villa Maria Academy, and was a graduate of Villa Maria High School (Class of ’65). She was also a member of Mensa and the National Honor Society. Following high school, she entered the Sisters of St. Joseph Order and was known as Sr. John Mary. She attended Villa Maria College and taught at St. Andrew’s and St. Jude’s Elementary Schools. After three and a half years, she decided to change her vocation, and attended Gannon College graduating with a Bachelor’s Degree in Sociology/Anthropology. She was primarily a loving homemaker for life, but worked several jobs at the Presque Isle Clinical Group, as an in-home daycare worker, and part-time librarian. She met the love of her life, Anthony (Tony), while at Gannon and was married on September 25, 1971. They spent 44 years together raising their family. They were inseparable and raised their boys with a loving hand. She loved her boys and later her grandchildren and wasted no time in sharing her pride in them with others. They were her heart and soul. Kathy was known for her incredible wit and acumen. She enjoyed watching Jeopardy and would scarcely miss an answer. She was an avid reader and read thousands of books throughout her lifetime. As an English grammar scholar, she took considerable delight in correcting her children and anyone else when they misspoke. She had excellent prose and incredible penmanship. Kathy was well known for her sarcastic sense of humor and loved to engage in friendly arguments with all her loved ones. Although she battled with agoraphobia for many years, she loved striking up full conversations with waiters, cashiers, her hairstylist, and random people anywhere. Kathy loved crocheting, knitting, Slingo and Tetris, crossword puzzles, playing Trivial Pursuit, Taboo, and Scrabble with her family and friends, and watching The History Channel, Discovery, Animal Planet, PBS, and National Geographic. She was a Civil War enthusiast and had visited Gettysburg, Antietam, Fredericksburg, and other sites many times. She learned piano at a young age and performed at recitals and Christmas gatherings for many years. Kathy had incredible faith in God and gave her life to the Lord at the tender age of 8. Her faith remained steadfast throughout her entire lifetime. She was an incredible overcomer and displayed amazing courage throughout her life dealing with various ailments. She was a prior member of Gannon Chapel, an elder at First Presbyterian Church of the Covenant, and most recently, a member of Redeemer Presbyterian Church. She was loved by so many and loved so many. She was a ‘second mother’ to uncountable individuals and loved everyone unconditionally. She was truly a loving angel on Earth that exemplified the love of Jesus Christ. Her smile was infectious and she brought joy wherever she went. She will be sorely missed by her family and friends but cherished forever. She was preceded in death by her parents, her-in-laws, aunts and uncles and several cousins. In addition to her husband, she is survived by her four sons: Matthew and his wife Renata, of Erie, and their sons Ryan Harland and Jacob Lewis; Michael and his wife Kara, of Erie, and their children Samuel David, Amara Jade, Giovanni Michael, and Judah Alexander; Andrew, of Los Angeles, California; and Stephen and his wife Abby, of Erie, and their daughter, Amelia Jean. She is also survived by her brother Martin Christensen and his wife Iris, of Portland, Oregon, and their son Alec; her aunt, Anna Nelson, of Erie, and many in-laws and cousins. Although she never had any daughters of her own, she greatly adored her three daughters-in-law and two granddaughters and treated them as her own. Friends may come to a celebration of her life at the Dusckas-Martin Funeral Home & Crematory, Inc., 4216 Sterrettania Road, 16506 on Wednesday, September 23, 2014 between the hours of 4 and 9PM. A time of sharing will commence at 7PM. A Christian service will be held on her birthday, Thursday, September 24, 2015 at 11AM at Redeemer Presbyterian Church, 950 West 7th Street, Erie, PA, 16502. Pastor Bruce Anderson will officiate. All are welcome to attend. Private interment will be held. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in Kathy’s name may be made to the charity of your choice.