Kathleen Ann Visich

Kathy passed away at Overlake Hospital in Bellevue on May 6, 2017 surrounded by her family following complications from a heart attach and open heart surgery almost eleven weeks prior.

Kathy was born on January 8, 1953 in Seattle. She was the middle child of Frank and Helen Wald and enjoyed a close relationship with both her siblings James "Jim" and Carole Wald.

Kathy attended Forest Ridge High School and initially attended the University San Diego. After being diagnosed with, and surviving, Hodgkin's Lymphoma in her freshman year, she continued her studies at the University of Washington and joined the Sigma Kappa sorority. At a friend's house she met fellow UW student John Visich. Kathy shared with her college roommate that night she had met "the one." John wisely called her the very next day and the two shared 42 years of wedded bliss where they spent few days apart from each other. The two lived the vast majority of their life together in Clyde Hill, where they raised their two daughters, Carole and Renee.

Kathy spent her life giving back to others. She served on several boards and guilds including the Sacred Heart Parents' Board, the Forest Ridge Alumnae Board, and a Seattle Children Hospital's guild, and was a constant volunteer at her daughters' schools. She volunteered at Overlake Hospital and Providence Hospital and was also a caregiver to her parents and her brother Jim. Kathy also enjoyed spending time with her close friends, often talking about family, attending plays, or just enjoying a glass of wine outside. She also loved traveling with her family, especially to Hawaii and Cannon Beach.

After her daughters were grown, Kathy embarked on her first paid career, working at Crate and Barrel. She was extremely proud of the career she created there, serving as a Customer Service Manager for the team in Bellevue. She loved her Crate and Barrel family and was a first class member of their team.

The true light of Kathy's life was her four grandchildren: Connor, Spencer, Elizabeth and Zoe. From the moment they were born it was obvious to all she had found her true calling. Anyone who spoke to Kathy knew her family came first, but her grandchildren held spot number one.

She is survived by her husband John; daughters, Carole Roane (Erick) and Renee Kurdzos (Kevan); grandchildren, Connor, Spencer and Elizabeth Roane, and Zoe Kurdzos. She is preceded in death by her parents, Frank and Helen Wald, her siblings, Jim and Carole Wald and her step-sister Irene Stroscher.

Recitation of the Rosary will be Wednesday, May 10th at 7 PM and Funeral Mass will be held Thursday, May 11th at 10:30 AM BOTH at Sacred Heart Catholic Church 9460 NE 14th St, Bellevue 98004. The life of her brother Jim Wald, who preceded her in death by only 18 days, will also be celebrated.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center at www.fredhutch.org. Kathy survived cancer three times in her life, and the cutting edge care she received in 1972, following her initial diagnosis, allowed her family to have many more years with her.

Hoffner Fisher & Harvey
Guestbook at harveyfuneral.com