Kathleen E. Appino

Kathleen E. (Kathy) Appino passed away Friday night as a result of complications due to COVID-19.

Kathy was born in Rockford on August 20, 1939, to Roy (Dick) and Dorothy Thompson. She was the middle child of three- Margaret Bartz and Roy (Deb) Thompson. Kathy graduated from West High School in 1957. After graduation, she worked a variety of jobs until she met, and shortly thereafter, married her husband, James Appino, on November 26, 1960. The loving couple had five children, Dan (Pam), John (Beth), Sue (Steve) Didier, James (Sarah), and Dave (Kelli) Appino within the first eight years of her marriage. (How she did that and managed a household was a testament to work ethic and will.)

As her children grew, Kathy worked part-time at Burger King and, later, Amcore Bank while the kids were in school. Further, she volunteered regularly at St. Patrick’s elementary school. When her kids got to Boylan High School, Kathy eventually wound up managing the concessions program for the athletic program at the school for more than a decade. The little free time she had, she devoted to volunteering at her church (St. Patrick’s and, later, St. Peter’s Cathedral). In 2019, Kathy was selected as the St. Peter’s Cathedral Woman of the Year for her efforts cleaning the church, assisting in holiday service preparations/decorations, and arranging funeral luncheons.

Kathy experienced joy in her life through her marriage to Jim for 58 years (he passed away in February, 2018), through her children who married wonderful spouses, and through attending and being an active part of the lives of her 16 grandchildren and 6 great-grandchildren. When she was not attending her grandchildren’s football, basketball, baseball, softball games, track meets, swim meets, art displays, and school functions, Kathy could be found with a book or kindle in her hand. She was an avid reader and passed that love of reading on to her progeny as well. She was the center of a large and loving extended family who will miss her loving smile, great cooking, and warm presence for the rest of their lives.

Kathy is survived by her siblings, her sister-in-law Mary (Chuck) Cazzaniga, special cousin Pat Lenox, all of her children, grandchildren: Jimmy (Michelle), Paul, Tressa, Johnny (Mercedes Davila), Patrick (Riley), Jack (Katie) Didier, Michael (Anays), Erin Didier, Maddie, Bizzy Didier, Danny (Taylor Pampuch), Delaney, Jacob, Katie, Joe, and Samantha Appino, and great grandchildren: Jocelyn, Annabelle, Elliot, Gannon Didier, Owen, and Abigail, and many loving nephews and nieces. Preceded in death by her parents, husband, Jim, and nieces, Jan and Joan Peterson.

The Appino family would like to thank all of the 10th floor staff at Swedish American Hospital for their compassion and care.

A visitation will be held at Fitzgerald Funeral Home, 3910 N. Rockton Avenue, Rockford, Illinois, 61103 on Sunday, November 14, from 4-8pm. A funeral service will take place at the Cathedral of St. Peter, 1243 N. Church Street, Rockford, IL, 61103, on Monday, November 15, at 10:30am. COVID protocols will be followed at all services. Individuals who feel unwell or are concerned about COVID can utilize the Fitzgerald website www.fitzgeraldfh.com to express condolences. Burial will conclude in St. Mary/St. James Catholic Cemetery, Rockford, IL. In lieu of flowers, memorials should be made out to Boylan Catholic High School.