Kathleen W. Altenhofen

Kathleen W. Altenhofen of Bellevue, WA, died peacefully at home on 10/02/2011. She suffered greatly from breast cancer, chemo and radiation treatments for over 14 years. She was born on 12/02/35 to Alfred and Myrtle Walsh in Portland, Oregon. She is survived by her husband of 55 years, Ed, and her 6 children: Kirk (Gail); Kelly; Vicki Hyett; Teri Nall (Fred); Rick; and John (Shelley). She had 16 grandchildren and 2 great grandchildren. She leaves 2 brothers and 2 sisters, as well as numerous relatives.

Kathie went to Catholic grade and high schools in Portland and met Ed in her first year at the University of Portland. They were married in April, 1956, and moved to Bellevue in the early 1960's. She went back to school after the kids were older, and graduated from Bellevue Community College with a Graphics Art Degree. She worked for the Lake Washington School District for a number of years.

Kathie was well liked by all and greatly respected for her kindness, honesty, and helpfulness to all she encountered. She had several great devotions in her life: her Catholic Faith and deeply loved prayer life (inherited primarily from her mother); her time spent at her parent's Arch Cape, Oregon beach home (especially with her grandchildren); her unbounded love for her family and close childhood friends; her love of talking on the phone; imaginative story telling to all who would sit and listen (especially the little ones); and a great (and especially talented) love of oil painting, primarily flowers (pansies) and seascapes.

Our dear sweet Kathie will be missed by all who knew her and we all wish her the absence of pain, and the peace and enjoyment of God's presence in her new Heavenly Home.

Recitation of the Rosary will be Friday, October 7th, at 10:00 AM followed by Funeral Mass at 11:00 AM, BOTH at St. Louise Catholic Church, 141 156th Ave., S.E., Bellevue, 98007. Reception to follow Mass in the Parish Hall, open to all, and a Private Family Burial at Holyrood Catholic Cemetery mid-afternoon.

Funeral arrangements and visitation on the day before the funeral will be with
Hoffner Fisher & Harvey
508. N. 36th St., Seattle, 98103

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the St. Vincent de Paul Society at St. Louise or to the Swedish Hospice Program in Seattle.