On the morning of Sept. 4, 2018, Mary “Kathleen” Koehler Cresto, 86, entered Heaven surrounded by angels. Her final days were spent with her children and grandchildren by her side, holding her hand and praying the rosary.
Kathleen was born on March 4, 1932, in Kansas City, Missouri, to Joseph and Josephine Flaherty. She went to Saint Elizabeth’s Catholic School and loved to read at an early age. After graduating from St. Theresa’s Academy, Kathleen received her Bachelor of Science degree from Avila College in home economics and did her dietetic internship at St. Mary’s Hospital/Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota.
Kathleen dedicated her life to helping others as a registered dietitian for over 50 years. She was the Food Service Director at Lee’s Summit Community Hospital and Barnes Jewish Hospital. Kathleen was a Nutrition Education Specialist for the Dairy Council of Greater Kansas City, a clinical dietitian at St. Joseph Hospital and the owner/director of Koehler Infant Formula Laboratory.
Throughout her life, Kathleen kept a strong faith and close relationship with God. She always held a deep devotion to Mary and dedicated her life following her teachings which was apparent as a loving mother of seven children, 18 grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
Her family always came first. Whether it was making Halloween costumes for her children or jumping in to help drive her grandchildren home from school, Kathleen was devoted to her family and cherished the time she spent with them during the holidays. She was known for cooking large Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners every year, delivering handmade May Day baskets and spending Christmas morning watching her grandchildren open presents under the tree. Kathleen loved being a mother and always cared for her family, a trait she has passed on to each of her children.
Kathleen was an avid gardener and dog-lover. She loved spending time in her garden in the backyard, where she would watch birds in the feeder. Kathleen also loved sports, keeping a close eye on Notre Dame men’s football and women’s basketball and the Kansas City Chiefs and Royals.
Kathleen was always taking care of others and volunteered her time to Meals on Wheels, Ladies of Charity, the Catholic Charities Food Pantry and the Holy Trinity Catholic Church gift shop. It was in 2002 that she met her husband Francis Cresto while volunteering at Holy Trinity which was a passion they continued to do together. They loved to travel across the country and would enjoy date night at Winstead’s or Zarda Bar-B-Q. They looked forward to each family member’s birthday when they would call them to sing Happy Birthday.
Kathleen was preceded in death by her parents, her brother Joseph A. Flaherty, Thomas A. Koehler, Sr. and her husband Francis Cresto.
Kathleen is survived by her seven children: Gretchen Koehler, Elaine Glenski (Robert), Jo Anne Koehler, Tom Koehler (Janet), Rita Koehler (Patty Hackett), Bernadette Brune (Pat) and Matthew Koehler (Erin). She is also survived by 18 grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
Kathleen never lost her faith and is now in Heaven where she was greeted by her loved ones. She is reunited with her parents and brother as she sits in God’s garden and watches over her family from above.
Visitation will be at 9:30 a.m. followed by the Rite of Christian Burial at 10:30 a.m., Friday, September 7, at Holy Trinity Catholic Church, 13615 W. 92nd Street, Lenexa, Kansas. Burial to follow Mass at St. John’s Catholic Cemetery at 89th Terrace and Pflumm Road.
The family requests, in lieu of flowers, that memorial contributions be made to Catholic Charities or Avila University in memory of Mary Kathleen Cresto.