Kathleen Mary VanWey

On September 24, 2024, Kathy’s soul left us for her heavenly home. She had suffered with pulmonary fibrosis for 4 years. She is now pain free and at peace.

Known over the years as Kathy, Kassie, Kath-Kath and Mom, she was born in Toledo, Ohio to Glen O’Blenis and Esther (Haynes) O’Blenis Dotts. She graduated from St. Ursula Academy in 1968, and the University of Toledo in 1971. At the University of Toledo, she met and fell in love with Dennis VanWey, and they married on November 21, 1972, moving to Fremont, Ohio in 1975. 

Going back to college in 1992, Kathy graduated from Heidelburg College in 1997 with an M.A. in Counseling. She was a very popular adjunct instructor at Terra Community Collage, teaching Psychology classes from 2000-2012. 

She was active in St. Joseph’s Catholic Parish, especially in the RCIA program and the Bereavement Team. Her faith was very, very important to her. When her health began to fail, she watched Mass on EWTN everyday. 

She acted in many plays at the Fremont Community Theater, often stealing the show, even in one role where she had no lines. She enjoyed writing creative fiction and coloring. Since 2020 she wrote many articles for Lifestyle 2000 magazine under the column “My 2 Cents”. She was also active in a creative writing group at Terra Community College. 

Kathy is survived by her soulmate, husband Dennis, and the lights of her life, children Jessica VanWey of Gibsonburg, Ohio (Children’s Librarian at Birchard Public Library), and SFC Jefferson VanWey, U.S. Army of Londonderry, New Hampshire. Also, surviving is her older brother, Gerald O’Blenis, Sr. of Toledo whom she adored and several nieces, nephews, greats and great-greats, and her brother-in-law Greg (Annie) VanWey of Huron, Ohio. She was deeply loved by all.

She is preceded in death by her parents, stepdad, Steven Dotts, sister-in-law, Sue O’Blenis, and her in-laws, Al and Lois VanWey, and sister-in-law Sherry (Mike) Laux

Visitation will take place on Sunday, September 29, 2024 from 2-6 p.m. with a Rosary Service beginning at 6 p.m. at Wonderly Horvath Hanes Funeral Home and Crematory, 425 E. State St. Fremont, OH 43420. 

Mass of Christian Burial will take place on Monday, September 30, 2024 at 10:00 a.m. at St. Joseph Catholic Church, 709 Croghan St. Fremont, OH 43420. 

Burial will follow at St. Joseph Catholic Cemetery. 

Memorials can be made in her honor to Birchard Public Library Children’s Department, St. Joseph Catholic Church, or Heartland Hospice all of Fremont.