Kathleen Marie Locherer, age 74, of East Islip, NY passed away May 27, 2018. Kathy was born in Queens, NY, on February 14, 1944. She was raised in East Islip, NY, graduated from E.I. High School in 1962, and married Robert Locherer that summer. Kathy was an excellent student and involved in many school activities and clubs, including drum majorette. She aspired to be a nurse; however, due to the time period in which she was raised and lack of support, her goal was not realized. Instead, Kathy married Bob and had 3 daughters, Bridget, Jennie and Suzanne, and all of her compassion was turned towards them. As a mother Kathy was loving, supportive, open-minded, non-judging, honest, trusted and fun. Her patience, quick thinking and common sense kept the family running on a daily basis. She also completed all the mundane tasks associated with motherhood. Somehow, she was never too busy or tired to help someone in need. When a wrong was done to someone she loved her anger towards the wrongdoer and fierce support always helped to lighten the situation. As her children say, “We won the lottery of moms”. She cared and loved so deeply – a part of her will always live on in the lives she touched. Kathy did have various jobs as she got older, until she had grandchildren, and her home became a day care for years. They benefitted from her undiminished stamina, playfulness and love of life. She loved all of her grandchildren and they brought her such happiness.

Outside of family, Kathy was an avid reader, loved to learn new things, enjoyed spending time with friends, tackling home improvement projects, dancing, walking the beach and traveling. Kathy was always such an active participant in life. She was not a bystander. Heart-wrenchingly, Dementia and Parkinson’s took so much of the things she loved away from her over the past 4-5 years of her life. She fought so hard and bravely- these diseases are harsh and unrelenting. She was preceded in death by her mother and father, Catherine and Peter Vahjen, and sister Geraldine. She was proceeded by her husband of 55 years, Robert Locherer; daughter Bridget Kudla, her husband Greg and children Brittney and Griffin; daughter Jennie Nagengast, her husband Ted and children Teddy, Jarrett and Nathan; and daughter Suzanne Holcombe, her husband Todd and children Jack and Kate; brothers Peter and James, sister Jackie; 12 nieces/nephews; and countless people whose lives she touched.