Kathleen Ann "Kathy" DeRusha

Kathleen Ann DeRusha
February 17, 1946 - February 12, 2024
Kathy, beloved wife of Al for 57 years; Loving mother of Beth (Art) Reed, Kelly Finfrock, Nikki (Kevin) Nabors, and Jenny (Mike) Sherry, passed away at home surrounded by her loving family on Monday, February 12, 2024.
Kathy's unconditional love, loyalty, spunk, quick wit, independence, strength, determination, compassion, and love of nature live on in her daughters as well as in all of her grandchildren; Jessie, Ali, Kobi, Jordan, Dexter, and Dawson who love their Nana with all their hearts. Devoted daughter of the late Bernadette McCormick (William), dear sister of Bill (Jackie) McCormick, Maura McCormick, and Tara (the late Rick) McCormick DePuma, sister-in-law of Dave DeRusha, aunt, great-aunt, cousin, and friend of many.
Kathy was born in Revere, MA and grew up in South Boston "Southie" neighborhood where she lived with her beloved Nana and developed a love of everything to do with the ocean. Many of her fondest childhood memories were of sailing and racing the family boat (The Kathy.)
In 1966, while working for the FBI in Puerto Rico, Kathy met and fell in love with army PFC Al DeRusha. They married and moved to Naperville in 1967, where they co-owned Mr. Value Grocery Stores.
In 1980, Kathy and Al opened their first seafood business where Kathy's Boston upbringing and love of seafood inspired the recipes and menus for all of the family businesses: Al's Seafood Market, Al's Seafood & Galley and Alleykat's restaurant.
Kathy's next career move was as an executive of retail operations for the Girl Scouts of Greater Chicago and Northwest Indiana. Her favorite story to tell was getting nailed by a sandwich dropped by a seagull in downtown Chicago. She had a great sense of humor.
Kathy had salt water in her veins! She loved vacationing on Cape Cod National Seashore: swimming in the ocean, taking long walks on the beach and eating fried belly clams and scallops at Arnold's!
She enjoyed birding, knitting blankets for family, reading, road trips, Mayneland Farm, the TCM channel, crossword puzzles, Yahtzee on the patio, dark chocolate, and red wine. AND Kathy loved being home with family; her love language was food always cooking large meals for her growing family.
When Kathy retired, she enjoyed volunteering at Edward Hospital (5 years) and walking the Morton Arboretum paths observing beauty in every season of the year! If you go, look for a bench on her favorite path with Kathy's name on it - back of the drive before the curve. And maybe, if you're lucky, on your way back, you might see an angry bluebird on the branch of a tree in the meadow. If so, give her a wink and think of Kathy. She would like that.
Visitation and funeral services will be private.
Private interment: Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery, Elwood, IL.
In lieu of flowers, donations in Kathy's memory may be made to:
The Morton Arboretum, 4100 IL-53, Lisle, IL 60532, (630) 968-0074, https://mortonarb.org/join-support/make-a-gift/
or
Tunnel to Towers Foundation, 2361 Hylan Boulevard, Staten Island, NY 10306, (718) 987-1931, https://t2t.org/donate/
Arrangements by Friedrich-Jones Funeral Home & Cremation Services, 44 S. Mill St., Naperville, IL
60540.
For more information, please call (630) 355-0213 or visit www.friedrich-jones.com