Kathryn A. Aiello

Service Details

A Celebration of Life for Kathy will be held at Faithbridge Church, 10402 Northwestern Ave., Franksville, on Friday, October 18^th at 11:00 a.m. Visitation will be in the funeral home on Thursday, October 17^th from 4:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m. and in the church on Friday from 10:00 a.m. until the time of the service.

Kathryn A. Aiello (nee: Talsma), 89, of Caledonia, passed away peacefully, at her home, surrounded by her children and care giver on Wednesday, October 9, 2024. She was born in Racine on March 8, 1935, the daughter of the late Frederick and Hazel (nee: Feller) Talsma.

Kathy was a graduate of William Horlick High School, Class of ’53. In 1956, she graduated from St. Luke’s Hospital School of Nursing. On May 26, 1956, she was united in marriage to the love of her life, Salvatore “Sal” Aiello. He preceded her in death on January 12, 2013.      Kathy was a longtime and active member of Faithbridge Church (formerly, Franksville United Methodist Church). She was a member of the United Methodist Women, the American Heart Association, the Caledonia Historical Society, the St. Luke’s Alumni Association, the Racine Retired Nurses, and the Tempo Dance Club.

Kathy was a Registered Nurse for most of her life; working for St. Luke’s Hospital, Kurten Medical Group, Racine County Nursing Service, and retired as the Health Officer for the Village of Caledonia. Through her work, Kathy led a life that was dedicated to caring for others. Whether her time in hospital or clinical nursing, or her second long career in public health, her compassion and sense of duty to people in need was boundless.  Frequently her work would flow into her personal life, and she would ‘adopt’ families in need. She would make sure that not only their health needs were met, but also that they had warm coats, food on the table, and toys for the kids. All of this was done from her heart with no need for acknowledgement or recognition. The joy and love she received from those she helped was enough for her.

Kathy loved spending time surrounded by the noise and activity of her big family of children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren & entertaining friends with Sal at their “big house with the front porch” in Franksville.  They also enjoyed nearly 60 years of date-nights – out to dinners, movies and parties with their close friend group.  She loved flowers and gardening, spending Spring and Summer days in her yard & cold Winter days inside reading the latest good book. Kathy & Sal also enjoyed spending long weekends at their cottage on the bay in Door County, with days filled with sand, water, and glorious sunsets, surrounded by friends and family.      She was always ready to pack a bag for a trip across the country or across the world, logging scores of miles on the road and in the air. With her sense of adventure, she could make the best of any situation- as long as there was time to stop for ice cream!  She was truly blessed with a long, full life.

Surviving are her four children, Nancy (Robin) Hunt, Jeffrey Aiello, Peg LaPierre-Meddy, all of Racine, and Thomas Aiello, of Los Angeles, CA; six grandchildren, Benjamin (Michelle) Hunt, Megan (Sean) Hirsch, Amanda (Jeff) Barker, Paige (Matthew) Guth, Lucas LaPierre, and Chloe (Alex) Hoffman, six great-grandchildren, William Hunt, Gavin Hirsch, Madeline Hirsch, Liliana LaPierre, Ashlyn Hunt, and Alexandra Larabee; nephew, Kirt Kehl; and niece Kerry Kehl.  In addition to her parents and beloved husband, Kathy was preceded in death by her two sisters, Norma Sandusky-Coombs, and Nancy Kehl-Kopfman. The family would like to thank Kathy’s amazing caregiver Tina Schemming for the past three years of helping her to live independently and enjoy life to its fullest. Tina will forever be a part of our family.

The family would also like to thank Dr. Julie Biller and Dr. Peter Rossi at Froedtert Milwaukee and Dr. Abha Malhotra, Dr. Shariff Attaya, and the Nurses & CNAs on CV2,3, &5 at Ascension All Saints Racine for Kathy’s great medical care over the years. It allowed her to continue experiencing life’s adventures, big & small.