Kathleen Margaret Johnson (née Welsh) passed away on February 14, 2019 at the age of 80 years old, due to complications of pneumonia. She was born on January 26th, 1939 in Chester, PA to George and Elizabeth Welsh. She is survived by her husband Charles Joseph Johnson, of Philadelphia PA. The couple wed on October 31st, 1959. Their path’s first crossed at a St. Clements dance where Charles’s buddy accidentally stepped on Kathleen’s foot. Neither of them knew this slight misstep would blossom into 4 children, 8 grandchildren, 2 great-grandchildren, and countless conversations held over tea bags and coffee cups.
Her four children; Charles, Kathleen, Elizabeth Anne (m. Drew Miller), and Hamburger Dave (m. Susan Johnson); are deeply sadden by the loss of a woman who was born to be a mother. Kathleen put her everything into raising her children, working to instill a sense of worth, and a feeling of unconditional love into each and every one of them. Her eldest son Charles used the lessons learned from Kathleen’s faith to become a member of The Society of Mary, a religious order within the Roman Catholic Church. Kathleen, Elizabeth Anne and Dave have taken these lessons and used them in their own parenting, trying to make their children feel as loved as Kathleen always made them feel.
When it came to being a grandmother Kathleen found it to be a very natural role to step into. She was able to show her grandchildren; Steven (m. Laura Adoff) and Michael Adoff (m. Kim, Brock, Payton, Dylan and Brewer Johnson, and Emme, and Michael Miller, a role model who put being kind to others above anything else. Kathleen’s legacy has been passed down another generation to her great grandchildren Max and Arianna Adoff. Going to “Mom-mom and Pop-pops’ house” always offered a night filled with apples and peanut butter, most likely a Phillies game on in the background and a lot of laughter.
The simple beauty of the world was not lost on Kathleen. She found a deep passion in finding minute details in nature and bringing them to life through her paintings and photography. She was able to lose herself in her art and loved being able to take God’s beautiful creations and capture them with a camera or a paint brush and canvas. From the red robin perched on a tree in her backyard to a wildflower flowing in the wind she was struck by inspiration everywhere she went. These paintings and photos will be cherished by Charles, her children, and her grandchildren for many years to come.
Her family is mourning the loss of a loving wife, mother, grandmother, and great grandmother who strived to, and accomplished making the world a better place after having her lived in it. Generations to come will feel the impact of Kathleen’s motherly soul and the family is comforted to know that Kathleen is looking down at them with a lipstick stained coffee cup in one hand, a paint brush in the other, and of course a motherly smile on her face.
Funeral mass will take place Tuesday 11am at St. Katherine Drexel Parish, 1920 Providence Ave., Chester, PA, 19013. Visitation Tuesday 10-11 at the church. Burial Mt. Hope Cemetery, Aston, PA.
Arrangements by Bateman-Allen Funeral Home, Brookhaven, PA.
www.batemanallenfuneralhome.com
Leave a Condolence