Kathryn Coologeorgen Dowell

Kathryn "Kathy" Dowell, of Indianapolis, IN and later Chicago, IL, passed away unexpectedly on Sunday, June 16, 2024. She was 80 years old.
Kathy was the firstborn daughter to Anna and Constantine "Gus" Coologeorgen and she was followed by her two younger sisters, Kondelo and Kristine. Kathy was a caregiver all her life, and that likely began at home where she first cared for her two sisters as the oldest. They grew up learning and growing in the Greek Orthodox Church, where Kathy had fond memories as a teen of Sunday school where their priest encouraged her and her classmates to ask questions and grow in their faith. She would carry on that tradition, as she taught Sunday school at her churches in Peoria and later in Indianapolis.
Kathy received a scholarship to Bradley in 1961 after high school and completed her degree at Methodist School of Nursing in 1965. After college, Kathy went to Hawaii to work at Queens Hospital on Oahu, where she met her husband, Kent. While they met in Hawaii, they discovered they had grown up several miles away from each other! Their time in Hawaii was special to both Kathy and Kent, though they returned to Illinois to marry and raise their 3 children. Their 50th anniversary was in 2019, and they celebrated in Hawaiian style a life well-lived together.
In the years following their marriage, Kathy and Kent welcomed three children into their lives: Stephanie, Carrie, and Christopher. Kathy juggled her nursing work with raising children, and she took on leadership in Pekin Suzuki Strings, a youth music organization their kids were involved in, where she volunteered eagerly on trips, for concerts, fundraised & wrote grants to support her violinist, cellist & double bass children. Kathy was proud of her 3 children: the Photographer & Social Worker, the Musician & Teacher, and the Aeronautical Engineer. She loved her grandchildren, Maxwell & Lilia, and watching their interests and passions develop.
Community involvement was important to Kathy and was another way her care and concern for people was evident. She was a member of P.E.O., a philanthropic organization that supports women's education, where she cultivated lasting friendships. Later in her life, she made five trips to an orphanage in Guatemala affiliated with the Greek Orthodox Church, where she would put her nursing skills to use. Later in her life while at Covenant Home, Kathy volunteered for and led the resident council as its chair. Last month when she left that role, she passed on initiatives that she created to the next council. Kathy was also involved in many facets of life at Covenant Home, from Bible study and worship, to socials and bingo, where she saved her $80 of winnings in quarters for her trip to California with her family this past Christmas. Kathy was also passionate about advocating for those facing challenges, and was often sought out for advice and counsel by her neighbors. She was loved by staff for being a storyteller, showering interest in everything, evolving and always wanting to learn more.
Kathy had much more to give and share, and for that, we will miss her immensely.
Kathy is survived by her children, Stephanie L. Dowell-Wolf (Carl Wolf), Carrie A. Dowell, and Christopher W. Dowell (Sara); her grandchildren, Maxwell and Lilia Wolf, her brother-in-law, Duane Dowell (Vera); her sisters, Kondelo Willerton (James) and Kristine Lenrow; and her extended family and friends.
Friends may come from 9A.M. to 10A.M on Thursday, June 20, 2024 @ St. Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church at 2727 West Winona Street, Chicago, IL. Funeral services will directly follow. Funeral service will be livestream at St. Demetrios YouTube page. Burial services will be held on Friday, June 21, 2024, at 2P.M eastern at Oaklawn Memorial Garden Cemetery at 9700 Allisonville Road, Indianapolis.
Flowers or memorial donations in Kathy's name may be made to: American Diabetes Association.
Arrangements by Memory Eternal Funeral Directors, Ltd. (847) 375-0095.