Kathleen Long

KATHLEEN "Kathy" ANN LONG, age 70, of Aurora, IL, formerly of Kaneville, passed away at Mercy Center Hospital on Sunday March 3, 2013 following a long battle with COPD, and is now finally at rest.She was born February 22, 1943, in Aurora, IL, the daughter of Arnold D. and Anna Mae (Foose) Long. She grew up in Kaneville, IL, and attended Kaneville Elementary School. She graduated from Kaneland High School with the class of 1961. Following her schooling, Kathleen found work locally for a time. Kathy was united in marriage in March of 1963 to Eugene "Gene" Long. They began their new life back in her home town of Kaneville where they welcomed two children, Denise in 1964 and a son Rodney made the family complete a year later in 1965. Kathy found work in the printing department of Furnas Electric in Batavia in 1968.Kathy and Gene were eventually fated to go their separate ways in 1971. Kathy continued to make her home in Kaneville. Following her retirement from Furnas Electric over thirty years later, Kathy devoted her time to before and after-school activities through Blackberry Creek Elementary School as well as Kuiper’s Family Farm during the fall. Kathy was a member of the Kaneville United Methodist Church for many years. Kathy loved to garden anything and everything but especially tomatoes, green peppers, musk melon, not to mention flowers that beautifully graced not only her lawn but her table as well. She loved to bake and was a wonderful cook. Her pecan pies were exceptional and her fudge made your mouth water. During the main meal however, her scalloped corn took the prize. Her bird feeder was always full and she was never without a faithful four legged companion. Dogs or cats, it didn’t’ matter, each had an equal share of her heart and home. Her hands were always busy, many times wrapped around a crotchet needle making baby blankets for the next generation. Her children and grandchildren were the apple of her eye and no one could keep her busy as they. Kathy was a devoted great-grandmother too, making sure that each little one knew that they were special. Her love of family became her legacy and she will forever be remembered by the ones that she loved. She is survived by two children:Denise (Bob Couch) Long of Stuart, FL and Rodney (Kathi) Long of Aurora, IL;Four grandchildren:Jessica Long, Courtney Brown;Nicholas (Ashley) Kramer and their children, Waylon and Shelby andStephanie (Brendan Clayton) Kramer and her daughter, Alaina;Two siblings:Sharon Rahr and Dan (Linda) LongFour nieces and nephews:Scott Rahr, Dori (Mark) Stone,Matthew (Carolyn) Long and Monica (Arik) Gum and a community of friends. She is preceded in death by her parents and one brother-in-law, Don Rahr.Visitation will be Thursday, March 7, 2013, from 5-8 p.m., at Conley Funeral Home, 116 W. Pierce St., Elburn, IL. A funeral service to celebrate her life will also be held at the funeral home, Friday, March 8, with a time of visitation from 9:30 until the time of service. Interment will follow the service at Kaneville Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, a memorial has been established in their name to benefit her favorite charities. Checks may be made to the "Kathleen Long Memorial" and mailed in care of P.O. Box 66, Elburn, 60119. Tributes may also be forwarded to the same address or on the web at www.conleycare.com.

Visitation will be Thursday, March 7, 2013, from 5-8 p.m., at Conley Funeral Home, 116 W. Pierce St., Elburn, IL. A funeral service to celebrate her life will also be held at the funeral home, Friday, March 8, with a time of visitation from 9:30 until the time of service.

Interment will follow the service at Kaneville Cemetery.