O'Connor, Katherine (Kay) Magdalene (neeSestric) passed awaySeptember 25, 2020, peacefullyof natural causes at97yearsat St. Paul Elder Services in Kaukauna, WI.Kay was born January 3, 1923, in the Strawberry Hill neighborhoodof Kansas City, KS,to MijoSestricand Bara (Suc), Croatian immigrants working in the KC meat packing plants. Kay's first language was Serbo-Croatian. She realized the American dream despite losing her father at age 10, living through the Great Depression and WWII, and surviving emergency exploratory brain surgery in a pre-MRI era to remove a benign tumor.Her parents made sure she and her two sisters earned college degrees.

Kay lived through somuch in her 97 years. Her father died when she was very young andher mom then moved Kay and her older sister, Annie, toBrooklyn, NY,and then to Detroit, MI,which the family considered home for the rest of Kay's growing-up years.In Detroit,Kay's mommarried a Serbian man,MilesPavich, whothrived inhis role of dad and,eventually,grandpa.A highlight of Kay's post-retirement yearswas her trips to Croatia and Medjugorje toreconnect with her roots.

Kay was a veteran of WWIIserving in Washington D.C. and Florida as a Coast GuardSPAR. She earned a bachelor's degree in journalism from UW-Madison,where she met and married the love of her life, Clarence "Pat" O'Connor, who was attending law school there. After a few years in Madison, Clarence moved the growing family to his hometown, Kaukauna, where he had grown up on a dairy farm just south of town. Kay was now folded into the massive O'Connorclan centered in Kaukauna.

After her youngest child reached school-age, Kay obtained herteacher certification from Outagamie County Teachers' College. She taught2ndgrade in Kaukauna Public Schools for15years. She loved teaching allkids buthad a special place in her heart for those kids who havea harder time learning, tutoring them outside of school to help them get to gradelevel. Additionally, she helpedteach English to Hmong immigrants, just as her mother had done for Croatian immigrants. She knew, as a person of faith and an American, that just as her family had been helped by others, she had an obligation to be that support for those in need around her.

A longtime member of Holy Cross Parish, Kay was determined to see that all kids, including those with special needs, were able to receive their first communion. To that end, Kay began religion classes on Saturday mornings for any kids who needed extra help in learning about the faith that was so important to her.Her own kids were called upon to assist with these lessons.

Kay is survived by five children, 15 grandchildren, and9great grandchildren- Susan (Ed)Patschke, Ryan (JosephChang), Sarah (Patrick) Sweeney & Addison; Kevin (Cheryl),Clare (Matt Moore)& Elise, Meredith (Lucas) Murray& Emerson, Caitlin; Barry(Rebecca), Benjamin (Sara) & Cole & Annie, Sam (Kate) & Jack & Abby, Alex (Nicole)& Finn; Marianne,Emily (Brian) Boger, EricBach, Charles Bach, Samuel(Joshua)Bach-Hanson;Ellen (Joel) Sauer, Alexandra, Calvin(BrittanyTurnbow) & Milo, Drew.She lovedeach and everyone, but Kay always knew which one of her children was her favorite.

Kay is also survived by one sister Barbara (Fred) Lindstrom, a sister-in-law Florence (Jack) Roberts,and many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death byher husband, one son Patrick,hermom, dad, andstepdad(MilesPavich), her sister AnnSestric,and many of Clarence's siblings and in-laws.

Kay's life was long and full. Shestrove to impart compassion in each of us who follow in her steps.

A special thank you to the amazing, dedicated, skilled staff at St. Paul Elder Services in Kaukauna, WI. They all helped make her lastyearsfun and positive.They were remarkable in normal times, and they have been phenomenal since the world turned upside-down this year.

Kay's family asks that, in lieu of flowers, gifts be made in Kay's memory toSt. Paul Elder Services at the following link:

https://www.convergepay.com/hosted-payments/?ssl_txn_auth_token=CM7DaGquQXeO4x3TVwAxDAAAAW2wsNFT#!/payment-method

More importantly, we know that Kay would ask that each day you,without judgment,try to makelifea bit easier for someone who is struggling.Be kind!

Burial will be private. A post-COVID celebration of Kay's life will be planned next year.