Kathleen D. McGonagle

1950 - 2017

Kathleen D. McGonagle

Born: July 20, 1950; in Chicago, IL

Died: March 8, 2017; in New Orleans, LA

Kathleen D. "Kathy" McGonagle, age 66, zookeeper, horsewoman, postal worker, teacher, and kindred spirit to the masses, passed away after battling pneumonia on Wednesday, March 8 in New Orleans, LA.

Lover of family, animals, music, and the sun, Kathy was born in Chicago, IL on July 20, 1950. She was raised on a farm in Lafox, IL with her parents and eight siblings. She attended Mount St Mary Academy in St Charles IL, graduating in 1968 and then went on to Marquette University in Milwaukee and received a BS in education in 1972. Her first teaching job was in New Orleans where she met her husband John "Jack" McGonagle. Kathy and Jack were together 44 years. After moving back to Illinois and teaching for numerous years at St Peter's School in Geneva, their daughter, Margaret and sons, Edward and Joseph came along. Kathy then made a career change and started working at the post office where she continued as a clerk for 24 years. Upon retirement, Kathy and Jack moved back to New Orleans and reinvented themselves yet again. Kathy went to work at the Audubon Zoo in the gift store. On hot summer days in her time off Kathy could be found lounging at the community pool or floating around in the lazy river at the zoo. Kathy was always up for an adventure and never turned a road trip down. She loved to explore the city and was able to meet someone, find out their whole life story and become their best friend within 15 minutes. Kathy loved visits from her grandson Cayden, her partner in crime. They spent their time hunting ghosts in the French Quarter, going on safari at the zoo, walking dog Killian and visiting the library for the newest releases.

Kathy is survived by her husband; and children; grandson, Cayden; siblings, Mary, Sue, Donnie, Michael, Patricia, Tim and Theresa along with a growing family of nieces, nephews, cousins, grand nieces and nephews and four legged grandchildren. She will also be missed by her Zoo family, her Post Office family, and her Catholic school family and many beloved friends in the Fox Valley.

Kathy is preceded in death by her parents, Edna (Mulhern) and Donald Dillon; brother, Edward; grandparents, Sarah and Edward Mulhern and Theresa and Robert Dillon.

A memorial gathering will be held Saturday, July 15 from 1:00 to 3:00pm at Malone Funeral Home, 324 E State St., Geneva, IL.

In lieu of flowers, please donate to the ACLU 125 Broad Street, 18th Floor, New York, NY 10004, UNICEF 125 Maiden Lane, New York, NY 10038 or the Audubon Zoo 6500 Magazine Street, New Orleans, LA 70118 in Kathy's name.

For information 630-232-8233 or visit www.malonefh.com.