Kathleen was born to Curvin “Toby” Gingrich O’Rielly and Marcella Olson O’Rielly Peck on October 19, 1944 in Barberton, Ohio. She graduated from Washington High School in Sioux Falls, South Dakota in 1962. She married Robert “Bob” Clausen in November 1969 and they lived together in Portland, Oregon until their divorce in 1988.

Kate was a dedicated, hardworking woman who worked many different positions throughout her professional career. Kathleen was proficient in many different positions within her work. She worked in management at US West Communications from 1968-1990; her most memorable moments there were being a spokesperson and helping to form a new market unit in product delivery. Kathleen, being the business woman she was, started her own business, O’Rielly and Associates Consulting from 1990-2003. During this period she also worked for the Oregon State Legislature as a Legislative Aide from ‘93-’94, the International Natural Health Pharmacy in customer service from ‘99-’03 and Magical Creations Boutique as a part time sales clerk & office assistant from ‘95-’05. Kathleen then worked at Nordstrom in customer service, communications and as a new hire trainer until her retirement in 2012. Kathleen was an incredibly passionate and driven woman in her work which led her to become a member of the Women’s Board Summit, was a founding board member of UWest Women & PGE Women, and was the lead Oregon coordinator for “Mother’s Acting UP!” . Kate was a skilled writer and editor who developed a class on the Feminine Face of Power, was featured in Pro Woman and became an editor for the international magazine Essence of Nature. 

She leaves as her legacy 3 children: Kristine Baran (s. Michael Baran), David Clausen (s. Gina Clausen) and Holly Clausen (s. Christopher Preas). She also leaves to cherish her memory 7 beloved grandchildren and 4 great-grandchildren whom she adored dearly and with her whole heart. Her family remembers her as a warm, loving, and fun “New Age Granny”.

Kate took a brief early retirement to travel across the world and spend time with her grandchildren. She attended the Japan International Flower Essence Conference, swam with dolphins in Florida, walked across the Aztec ruins in Mexico, explored the Peruvian and Chilean rainforests and always looked forward to bringing home stories and cultural gifts for her family.

She was preceded in death by Curvin O’Rielly, (brother), Marcella Olson O’Rielly Peck, (mother), and Curvin “Toby” Gingrich O’Rielly, (father).

In Kathleen’s own beautifully written words, “My spiritual journey was thorough and filled with many delightful journeys. Many friends, many loves, many laughs, many tears but that is what life is all about...living!”

Life is short...

Break the rules,

Forgive quickly,

Love truly,

Laugh uncontrollably,

And never regret anything that made you smile!

"And I shall have some peace there, for peace comes dropping slow, Dropping from the veils of the morning to where the cricket sings; There midnight's all a glimmer, and noon a purple glow, And evening full of the linnet's wings"

W.B. Yeats, from “The Lake Isle of Innisfree”

A Spreading of Ashes ceremony has not yet been scheduled and will be announced when Kate’s family can all come together as a group. The family requests that donations be made to Post-Polio Health International at https://post-polio.org/ to help support the community of polio survivors and educate healthcare providers on post-polio syndrome, just like Kathleen advocated for later in her life. Her family also encourages planting a tree as a living tribute while also supporting reforestation efforts in Kathleen’s memory at https://www.thegiftedtree.com…