Kathleen Ross

Born June 30, 1936, to Joseph and Francis Hollfelder in Detroit, Kathleen was the youngest child, joining her older sister Ilene and her brother Joseph Jr. in heaven. Kathleen passed away Friday, Jan. 16, 2026. She graduated from Ladywood High School in 1954 and married William H. Ross in 1962. They welcomed their first child, Kathyrn, a few years later, followed by adopting four more children: John, Donna, Richard and Jennifer.

Kathleen was a devoted mother to her children and helped them settle into new areas many times due to military and work moves throughout her life. The family lived all over the United States and Canada. They settled in Clarkston in 1983 and loved it. She said she would never leave this beautiful area. She found her forever home. This was largely contributed to the Holy Family School and Parish, which she was an active member of for the past 42 years. Catholic Daughters was her second family, where she met Dorothy Nichols, her lifelong friend. She enjoyed nothing more than helping with the funeral luncheons, where they developed deep long-lasting relationships. It was beautiful to see these women serving the Lord, while helping families gather and share perhaps a last meal together.

Mom was a stay-at-home mom most of our lives but eventually started working for Holy Family School with their Edu-Care program. She later became director of this program and began teaching preschool. She loved teaching and her favorite activity was group outings with her class of 25 students. They walked everywhere, touring local businesses, Taco Time, McDonalds, Albertsons, Baskin Robbins, etc. She wanted her students to experience life and see the world.

It’s no surprise that Mom found education very important, and once she began working, she wanted to achieve her lifelong goal of receiving a degree. She took one class at a time at Walla Walla Community College … evening classes … and after many years received two associate degrees and then started her Bachelor of Arts degree in early childhood development at Lewis-Clark State College. She finally accomplished her lifetime goal and received her degree Dec. 16, 2010. She was an inspiration to so many people over the years, always telling them never to give up.

Mom had a great sense of humor and loved to tease everyone, she was also very empathetic and was always the last one to leave any event. She never wanted anyone left “holding the bag.” Our biggest gift from our mother was knowing the Lord and giving of yourself. Every Sunday morning growing up, it was church, and there was no getting out of it, and volunteering. She was adamant that we give of ourselves, which in the end those were the two biggest gifts anyone could leave their children with: knowing the Lord and giving of yourself.

Kathleen is survived by her children Kathyrn (Billy), John (Ronnie), Donna (Troy), Richard (Reitu) and Jennifer (Darren); and numerous grand and great-grandchildren spread across the states that she loved very much.

We love and miss you, Mom. God Bless You.

A rosary will be recited at 5 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 21, at Holy Family Catholic Church, 1109 Chestnut St., Clarkston. Her funeral will be at 11 a.m. Thursday, Jan. 22, also at the church.