Katherine Lucy Greig

Katherine Lucy Greig (nee Strable) was born to parents William and Mary Iris Strable (nee Carabott) on July 28, 1977 in Madison Heights, MI. She attended Lamphere High School, where she met her high school sweetheart Daniel Greig at 16. Upon graduation in 1995, she attended Wayne State University to pursue a degree in teaching, which would become her passion. Little did she know that by becoming a teacher, she would change the lives of so many students.

On October 6, 2000, she married Daniel at St. Vincent Ferrer in Madison Heights, the church where they both grew up as kids. Upon completion of her bachelor's degree, she began teaching at César Chávez Academy in Detroit. It was there she began to understand what teaching was really about. On June 23, 2005, she excitedly welcomed her eldest son Joel into the world, and quickly adjusted to motherhood. She completed her Master of Arts in Teaching (Reading) from Saginaw Valley State University in 2008, where she refined her skills as a reading specialist and would go on to change the lives of many students who struggled in reading. From there, she taught at Princeton Elementary in St. Clair Shores, proving herself to be a fierce advocate for her students-standing up for what was right, even when it went against the grain. On September 14, 2012, she was delighted to welcome her youngest son Isaiah into the world. Due to increasing physical challenges, she made the hard decision to step back from full-time teaching and began tutoring struggling readers from her dining room table.

She truly cherished time with her boys, and taught them lessons of life, love, and how to be a person of integrity. She loved reading, traveling, cooking, baking, and crafting, and it brought her great joy to decorate the house for every holiday.

You always knew where you stood with Katherine. If you were on her "list," you knew it, but you were never there for long. Genuineness was the cornerstone of her friendships. She didn't hide what she felt or believed to fit in-what you saw was what you got. Her friends knew she wasn't afraid to call them out, but that it always came from a place of love. She was the first one to help people in need and gave a substantial amount of time to volunteering at her kids' schools, with the neighborhood, with St. Mary's, and other organizations.

She was a strong woman of faith with a true servant's heart. Her faith compelled her to speak up for the marginalized and to advocate for the inherent dignity of all. She was always encouraging and lifting up others, reminding them that they weren't alone. She knew that love was best expressed in thoughtful actions, not words alone. She anticipated the needs of others, and she had a true gift for making people feel seen and heard. And her smile was infectious.

She will be profoundly missed by countless family, friends, and the many students whose lives are forever changed. The impact she had on all our lives continues to challenge us all to speak the truth tactfully with kindness and love, even when it's difficult.

She is survived by her husband Daniel, her sons Joel and Isaiah, her sisters Mary (Rob) Binge and Dorothy (Mark) Pagenkopf, her Godmother Mary Carabott, as well as dear aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, cousins, her mother- and father in-law Steven and Elisa Greig, and many friends. She is preceded in death by her parents William and Mary Iris Strable.