Kathy passed away on July 30, 2019 at age 71. She is survived by her sister, Roberta (Charles “Corky”) Crimaldi; her life-long partner Diane Burscheid; her nephews: Guy (Becky) Crimaldi; Michael Crimaldi; Charles “Chuckie” Crimaldi; John D. (Jamie) Burscheid; her niece, Julie (Brent) Knuth; seven great-nieces and nephews, and her furry companions, Vinny, Olivia, and Jake. She is also loved and will be missed by additional family members and many dear friends.
Kathy was born in 1948 and grew up on Chicago’s north side where she attended Our Lady of Good Counsel Grade School and Alvernia High School. After high school graduation, she came to Wisconsin to attend Alverno College. She graduated in 1970 with a Bachelor of Science degree in English. She furthered her education by receiving a Masters in Education from National Louis University.
In 1970 she and Diane Burscheid moved to Cedarburg, WI. She began her teaching career at Random Lake Middle School where she taught eighth grade language arts. She loved teaching and enjoyed the thirty-five years she spent working with students and staff.
Kathy retired from teaching in 2005. Her next job was driving a taxi for the Port Washington Shared Ride Services. She enjoyed this job also, and was employed there for five years until the program closed. It was then that she retired permanently.
Kathy loved reading and was a member of two book clubs. She also enjoyed playing Trivial Pursuit and her regular pot luck gatherings. Her love of music was always present. Kathy played the bass not only in high school and college but also shared her talent by playing in community and high school theater productions. Kathy’s love of music also found her attending various musical performances in the greater Milwaukee area.
Even though Kathy lived in Wisconsin most of her life, she loved Chicago. She believed it was a place rich in cultural opportunities. She never tired of traveling to visit her sister, her family, relatives, and friends.
Most of all, Kathy loved people. She and Diane had many, many friends. She was an excellent conversationalist, and her sense of humor was unforgettable. Her humor often entertained the entire group at social gatherings. Even so, she was always most interested in others and regularly deflected attention from herself.
At their home, Kathy and Diane have also enjoyed their dear pets: Vinny, Olivia, and Jake. Oftentimes all three could be found on Kathy’s lap as she watched T.V.
Diane Burscheid and Kathy’s family would like to thank the staff at Aurora Medical Center-Grafton, the Aurora Cancer Care Center-Grafton, and Aurora at Home for their kindness and amazing care of her.
Her spirit will continue to enrich the lives of those who knew and loved her.
A gathering for Kathy Ferbos will be held at Krause Funeral Home, 12401 West National Avenue, New Berlin, Wisconsin on Saturday, August 24. Visitation from 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM. A Celebration of Life at 4:00 PM.
Memorials appreciated to St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital or the Humane Society of your choice.