Catherine "Kay" Willobee

Catherine “Kay” (Kesel) Willobee, 91, of St. Joseph died Monday, October 3, 2011 at the Ahwatukee Adult Care Home in Phoenix, Arizona. Services celebrating her life will be held at 11 AM on Saturday, June 16, 2012 at the Stevensville United Methodist Church. The family will receive friends and relatives beginning at 10:30 AM on Saturday at the church. Arrangements are by the Dey-Florin Chapel of Florin Funeral Service in St. Joseph. Memorials may be made to the Special Olympics or the Stevensville United Methodist Church. Please share messages, memories or photos at www.florin.net. She is survived by children, James Kesel, Dale Kesel and Deborah Fatkin; her step-children; her sister, Doris (Jim) Weis; her 17 grandchildren and her 24 great grandchildren. Catherine “Kay” Willobee, 91, of St. Joseph died Monday, October 3, 2011 at the Ahwatukee Adult Care Home in Phoenix, Arizona. Services celebrating her life will be announced at a later date. Cremation has taken place. Arrangements are by the Dey-Florin Chapel of Florin Funeral Service in St. Joseph. Memorials may be made to the Special Olympics or the Stevensville United Methodist Church. Please share messages, memories or photos at www.florin.net. Catherine was born on October 27, 1919 in Lansing, MI to Harold and Ruth Lorenz. She was the co-owner of the Norm Kesel Florist Shop in E. Lansing for 32 years where she also a floral designer. She moved to St. Joseph in 1972 where she owned with her partner the Honeybee Fashion Shop in St. Joseph for 10 years from 1981 to 1991. Catherine married Jack Willobee and he preceded her in death in 1988. She was a member of the Red Hat Society and the Stevensville United Methodist Church. She was a past member of the American Business Women Association and was honored as the “Woman of the Year” by that group in 1968. She did volunteer work at the Lakeland Hospital. Catherine enjoyed reading and loved to work in her yard and make flowers grow. She is survived by children, James Kesel of Englewood, FL, Dale Kesel of Phoenix, AZ and Deborah Fatkin of Flat Rock, NC; her step-children, Hal (Gunnel) Willobee of South Haven, Jackie (Lee) Garcia of Brentwood, CA, Allan (Carolyn) Willobee of South Haven and Leslie (Doug) Ryor of Stevensville; her sister, Doris (Jim) Weis of Colorado Springs, CO; her 17 grandchildren and her 24 great grandchildren. She was also preceded in death by a brother, Donald Lorenz.

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Catherine "Kay" Willobee

October 27, 1919 - October 3, 2011