Kathleen "Kay" Gulino

Kathleen Gulino, 87, of Oak Lawn, Illinois, passed away on Monday, November 7th, 2022. Kathleen was born in Chicago on November 27th,1934.

Our Mom and Grandma Kay was an amazing woman. Everyone who met her could immediately detect her strength, fierce love, kindness, grace, and those charming New Orleans mannerisms.

Kathleen’s German-born parents, George and Barbara Hefeli, gave her an older brother, Tony and two younger sisters, Nancy and Mary Beth. She has joined them along with her husband, Loretto (Louie) Gulino, and her youngest son, Matthew, in a place of perpetual peace.

Kathleen worked as a secretary but when she met the love of her life, “her Louie,” she stayed home to raise her sons, Michael and Matthew. The family would spend part of the summer on their Sicilian grandparents,’ John and Sara Gulino’s strawberry farm and the school year in Chicago.

At home, she was an impeccable homemaker. Her home was warm and tasteful. Her cooking and baking were superb. Holidays at Grandma’s house were always memorable, and when she took all the Gulino grandchildren, Michael and Paris’ Louis and Jordan, and Matt and Joanne’s Nicholas, Sara, and Katie, her oversized purse was stuffed with candy for the show.

When “her Louie” passed away at 51, she remained loyal to him. She returned to secretarial work and to a deep commitment to the choir at St Daniel the Prophet. She maintained her home and her driver’s license until she was 85 at which point her safety dictated that she move to Grace Point Memory Care. She died of pneumonia complications, but to the end, she still able to tell stories about people and places in her pictures. She lived in dignity, and she has found her family and her better self.

Resting at Thompson & Kuenster Funeral Home, 5570 W. 95th St. in Oak Lawn where Services will take place Monday at 11:00 am.

Interment St. Mary Cemetery.

Visitation Monday from 9:00 am until the time of Service at 11:00 am.