Kathleen (Kathy) Autumn Jablonowski (Rose), 76, of Overland Park, Kansas, passed away following a brief battle with lymphoma.

Kathy was born September 21, 1949, in Utica, New York. She was known as “Cathe” to family and friends early in her life, and later came to go by Kathy after moving to Kansas City.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Isobel (Rowan) and Eugene Francis Rose, and her older sister, Colleen Vanover, whose passing just over a month earlier was a profound loss. She is survived by her three children: Jason Martin (wife, Karonia; children, Karson and Kamden), Heather Gunesekere (husband, Anju; children, Alexis and Lyric), and Amanda Walsh (husband, Justin; children, Marina, Allec, Julian, Samantha, and Kaylee), as well as her sisters Darleen Campbell, Mavourneen Todd, Eileen Rose, and Maureen Balsbaugh.

Family meant everything to Kathy. She loved her children and grandchildren deeply, but her sisters held a uniquely central place in her life. Much of that life was shared through stories of their childhood, the mischievous things they had and hadn’t gotten away with, what it was like growing up in different parts of the country, and the bond they carried with them throughout their lives. In many ways, her sisters were her world.

That same love and connection carried into the way she lived and the work she chose to do.

Kathy began her career in deaf education at the age of 19, starting a path that became her life’s work. She served as a teacher in residential programs at the California School for the Deaf, the Arkansas School for the Deaf, and the Kansas School for the Deaf, where she helped children develop independence, responsibility, and essential life skills. During her time in Arkansas, she also contributed her work at the Arkansas School for the Deaf and Blind, expanding her support to a broader special needs community. Her work went beyond the classroom, focusing on preparing students for everyday life and empowering them to care for themselves with confidence.

She also worked with adults and children with special needs through organizations including Camp Aldersgate, Goodwill, and United Cerebral Palsy, forming immediate connections and offering care, patience, and understanding in a way that came naturally to her. Supporting others was not simply her profession, it was who she was.

That same sense of purpose carried into every part of her life. Kathy was a free spirit, full of energy, emotion, and humor. She was easy to talk to, and people often found themselves opening up to her in ways they didn’t expect. She wore her heart on her sleeve, loved deeply, and was never afraid to say exactly what she believed. She had a natural instinct to care for others and was always willing to put someone else’s needs ahead of her own.

She took pride in creating special moments for the people she loved. Nowhere was this more evident than at Christmas. She loved the season, planned for it year-round, and found joy in giving. She had a remarkable ability to choose gifts that felt personal and thoughtful, and her generosity made the holidays feel special for everyone around her.

Kathy loved music, and it was always a big part of her life. Her eclectic taste reflected her personality, wide-ranging, nostalgic, and full of energy. Her love for music began early, shaped by the songs her parents listened to and the sounds of her childhood. She carried that with her, especially in her love for hits from the 50s and 60s, including rock and roll, doo-wop, Motown, and soul. Her tastes also spanned 80s and 90s pop rock and country, and in recent years, she found herself especially drawn to one of her longtime favorite artists, Marty Robbins.

Kathy enjoyed collecting and found joy in surrounding herself with things she loved. She built a large collection of VHS tapes, DVDs, and CDs, along with puzzles and items for scrapbooking, a hobby she had recently begun to explore. She was especially drawn to keepsakes connected to Ireland, including leprechauns, four-leaf clovers, music boxes, and Irish mementos, and gathered elephants, American Indian dolls, and other treasured items. She had a deep love for horses, reflected both in what she collected and in experiences she cherished, including a recent trip to Reno, Nevada, where she spent time watching wild horses with one of her closest childhood friends.

Kathy loved to travel and explore places she had long dreamed of visiting. In recent years, she made memorable trips to Montreal, Canada, and fulfilled a lifelong dream of traveling to Ireland. While there, she traveled the countryside, connecting with the country her mother once called home. During her stay, she visited a pub in Dublin that was featured in one of her favorite films, P.S. I Love You, a moment that brought together her love of travel and movies. That love of film was a constant, and she often spoke fondly of classics like Meet Me in St. Louis, State Fair, and Yankee Doodle Dandy, among many others.

Our family recognizes the impact that so many of you had on our mother’s life. Through the stories she shared over the years, we came to understand just how much you meant to her. Thank you for loving her.

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