Kathryn Ann Clay

Kathryn (Kathy) Ann Clay nee Wroblewski was born on April 20, 1938, in South Bend, Indiana. She is survived by her daughter, Christina Marie Clay, MD (Tom Ramsey), and her granddaughters, Ellen Morris Palermo (Joe Palermo) and Charlotte Morris. She was the oldest child and only daughter of Florence Hosinski and Casimir Wroblewski. She has three younger brothers, Mike Wroblewski (Kris Yacovoni), Tom Wroblewski (deceased), and Jerry Wroblewski (Crystal) and grew up in an extended Polish-American family, remaining proud of her heritage throughout her life. Her parents instilled in her a tremendous respect for learning and education and Kathy became the first woman in her family to obtain a college degree, graduating from Indiana University in 1960.

She married Harry Clay in 1960 and worked in the Indiana University Music Department until his graduation in 1962; this was always a great source of laughter in the family, as Kathy could not carry a tune in a bucket. Following the birth of their only child, Christina Marie, she and Harry moved to Waukegan, Illinois, to begin their teaching careers. They both turned out to be gifted teachers with long careers in public school education.

Kathy started teaching English and Social Studies in North Chicago in the Middle School, but after a few years, moved to the elementary level in the Woodland School District. At Woodland, she specialized in reading, became active in the union, including being a union representative, and obtained her master's degree in education. She retired from Woodland at age 68 but returned to work as a reading specialist in several school districts in Lake County, before retiring for good at age 75.

Throughout her more than 60 years living in Waukegan, Kathy was active in numerous volunteer activities, groups, and nonprofit organizations. She was active in the League of Women Voters, believing fervently in democracy and the importance of voting. Kathy read ravenously – particularly detective stories and mysteries. She was the treasurer for many years of the Clare Cummings Club – a group of literature-loving women who gathered regularly to hear talks by authors. She worked tirelessly for the Friends of the Waukegan Public Library, doing everything from heading the organization to baking cookies for the summer concerts to sorting through endless boxes of book donations. She loved her garden and was a member of the Waukegan Garden Club; when she took her last breath, she was surrounded by flowers and house plants. She met every Thursday morning with old friends for coffee, breakfast, and loud conversation at the diner on Sunset.

She and Harry traveled every summer for many years to Stratford, Ontario, to the Shakespeare Festival, creating wonderful memories of long days of theater and literature for her daughter and contributing to a love of theater in her grand-daughters, Ellen and Charlotte. While Harry was a homebody, Kathy loved to travel and whether with her daughter, or a teachers' program, or to visit her brother, she made trips throughout Europe and to China, and Thailand.

Harry passed in 2010, so for the last 15 years of her life, Kathy was supported by her group of dear friends and a dedicated caregiver. Kathy blazed her own path and lived on her own terms until the last. Her last words to her daughter were, "Don't forget to take your wings. If there is a problem with the plane, you can always fly home." We are sure she was able to fly safely to her next great adventure and is now actively organizing the angels and tidying up the clouds.

Arrangements are under the direction of Peterson & Patch Funeral Home in Waukegan, please sign our online guestbook at www.waukeganfunerals.com