Sauntessa Richardson RN

Sauntessa Richardson RN, passed away quietly in the early morning hours of July 13th, 2025 at Sisters of Loretto Living Center in Loretto Kentucky. She was born in 1937 in Kitts, Ky., the youngest child of Daniel Osborne and Fannie Mae Shockley. Sometimes known as "Sandy" or "Tess", she and her mother moved to Louisville in the mid 1950's.
There she met and married a young Charles Richardson. Together, their corporate odyssey with McKesson saw the family, including two small children, move from Kentucky to Ohio, Michigan, Illinois, and ultimately the San Francisco Bay Area. In addition to cheerfully overcoming the challenges of frequent relocation, she brought a winning combination of relaxed southern charm and gracious entertaining to her role in support of her husband and his career. At the same time, for her own professional standing, she went back to school, graduated, and became an RN proudly specializing in geriatric care.
In the 1980's, as Charles's retirement neared, their first and only grandchild, Kyle, was born in Louisville. Soon thereafter, they returned home to their beloved Kentucky and cherished extended family, rekindling ties and enjoying local events as well as many shared family milestones. Always a Lady, she was the devoted wife of 65 years to Charles; encouraging mother to Mark Richardson and Melissa Koehler (Craig); loving grandmother to Kyle Gerlach, gentle great-grandmother to Ephraim, Arista and Elias Gerlach; caring nurse to many and dear friend to many more. Truly an original, she will be sorely missed.
She was preceded in death by her parents and siblings, Arthur Osborne (Jo Ann), Eva Rowland (Joseph) and Corena Hinman (Ronald).
A Mass of Christian Burial for Mrs. Sauntessa Richardson will be 11 a.m. Friday, July 18, at St. Thomas Catholic Church. The Rev. Terry Bradshaw will be the celebrant. Interment will be in St. Thomas Church Cemetery.
Visitation will be at the Houghlin-Greenwell Funeral Home Thursday, July 17, from 3:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. There will be no additional visitation Friday.
The family requests that expressions of sympathy take the form of contributions to The Humane Society of Nelson County.
Houghlin-Greenwell Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.