Kathleen Fahey, age 76, passed away on Friday, August 20, 2021 at her home in Carbondale, Illinois. Kathleen was born on May 9, 1945 to William Thomas and Ardis (Rice) Fahey in Minneapolis, Minnesota. She was preceded in death by her parents.
Kathleen is survived by her two sisters Moira Fahey of St. Paul, Minnesota and Mrs. Ron (Sheila) Boerner of North Platte, Nebraska; and six nephews and nieces: James (Corie) Boerner of Bellevue, Nebraska, Kevin (Janell Davies) Boerner of Tempe, Arizona, Brian (Shannon Boerner of Omaha, Nebraska, Sharleen (Trent) Rapp of Bennington, Nebraska, Anne (Steve) Zimmerman of Kearney, Nebraska, and Cyndi (Sean) Cooke of Chandler, Arizona; and many great nieces and nephews.
Kathleen earned her BA in Zoology and her MA in Library Science from the University of Minnesota. From 1968 to 1970 she worked at the University of Nebraska Medical Center Library. In 1971, she earned her MA in Zoology at the University of Michigan. She worked at the Department of the Interior Library in Washington, DC from 1971 to 1973. She then moved to Bismarck, North Dakota to live with her grandmother and worked there until 1977. She finally moved to Carbondale, Illinois in 1977 and worked at Morris Library in Southern Illinois University until she retired in 2005.
Kathleen and Sheila were best friends, and Ron and Sheila's family treasured their Aunt. Kathleen visited North Platte soon after the birth of each child and continued visits as the children went through school, graduated, attended college, married and started their own families. Ron and Sheila also enjoyed their visits with Kathleen in her beautiful home with its lovely gardens and the magnificent forests in Southern Illinois. Kathleen walked daily and in retirement traveled in Europe with Road Scholars Tours.
Kathleen's funeral will be held on Saturday, April 23, 2022 at 10:00 a.m. at St. Patrick's Catholic Church in North Platte, Nebraska with Father Joshua Brown presiding. Burial will follow at North Platte Cemetery. Adams & Swanson Funeral Home of North Platte, Nebraska is in charge of arrangements.