Kathy Abood

KATHY ABOOD (nee Deutsch), aged 79 years, treasured wife for 56 years to Roger R., beloved mother of David (wife Christa), Dr. Daniel (wife Mary Ellen), Mark (wife Loriann) and Mary Hilberg (husband Brian), loving Sitti (grandmother) of Nathaniel, Noah, Samuel, Alexandra, Abigail, Layla, Gianna, Kristian, Gabriel and Magdalaina Abood, and Isabella and Sophia Hilberg, devoted daughter of the late Joseph and Margaret (nee Olenik) Deutsch, cherished sister of Joanne Filocco, Joseph and John Deutsch, and Rosemary Culotta, fond aunt and grand-aunt to many.

Margaret Kathleen Abood (“Kathy”), passed away at her home in Brecksville, Ohio, with her loving husband, Roger, by her side. Her final days were comfortable, and she was surrounded
by her husband and children, David, Dan, Mark, and Mary, day and night as she lost her 3 year battle with ovarian cancer.

Kathy was born in 1943 in Cleveland, Ohio to Joseph and Margaret Deutsch, who were of Hungarian descent, something that Kathy was proud of throughout her life. She had two older
sisters, Joanne and Rosemary, and two younger brothers, John and Joe. Kathy attended Our Lady of Peace Elementary School, and then Beaumont High School. After high school, Kathy
went on to pursue her nursing degree at St. Vincent Charity School of Nursing, graduating as a Registered Nurse in 1964.

Kathy began her career as an RN in the Surgical Intensive Care Unit at St. Vincent Charity Hospital, and after two years, became employed at the Cleveland Clinic Foundation in
Cleveland. Kathy worked at CCF for 40+ years, covering every different shift and on just about every unit. She was the Assistant Head Nurse on the newly-opened VIP floor, where she met
so many interesting people! Her final 12 years at the Clinic were spent at Taussig Cancer Center, which at the time, was also brand new. She brought her bright smile, amazing bedside
manner, and wonderful smelling perfume to so many patients who were struggling with their own fights against cancer. She retired in 2004. When she was 18 years old, Kathy met her future husband and love of her life, Roger at a Maronite Youth Organization dance she attended with a friend. Little did she know that this night would begin the greatest love story ever known. She and Roger dated for 5 years before getting married in 1966. Kathy melted the hearts of Roger’s family, who had all planned for him to marry within their own Lebanese culture, quickly acclimating to the traditions, faith, and cooking his family brought with them from Lebanon. Kathy even became part of the Immaculate Conception Sodality of Mary, an organization of Maronite women involved in the church community.

Kathy’s greatest love is Roger and the family they created. She spent many hours watching her children’s sporting events, shuttling them to and from practices, attending banquets and play
performances, and transporting four kids to and from college, all while working and maintaining their household. As the grandchildren started to arrive, she became a babysitter, a chauffeur
(again!), a pumpkin carver, an Easter egg colorer, a trick-or-treater, a cookie and candy maker, and even Santa’s helper! Kathy’s pride and joy was her family, and that was apparent in
everything she did for, and with them. Kathy’s second love was traveling! She had a passion for seeing new places and experiencing new things, her adventurous Gypsy spirit always shining through! She budgeted and saved every penny so the family could go on vacations to Niagara Falls, Mammoth Cave, Myrtle Beach and Kiawah Island, Disney World, and New York City. Their most surreal trip as a family, by far, was to Jordan as guests of King Hussein! Once the kids were grown and starting families of their own, Roger and Kathy traveled even more… cruises, Yellowstone, Grand, Bryce and Zion canyons, Alaska, Italy, Paris, Budapest, Vienna, Prague, Israel, and their “bucket list trip”, Lebanon. Kathy led the way, and Roger followed along for the ride, always encouraging and supporting his wife’s dreams. They were the truest example of unconditional and unending love, and that showed in everything they did.

Roger and Kathy shared a blessed life, were married for nearly 57 years, and created four incredible children, who each married someone perfectly suited to their unique personality.
They loved on and spoiled their twelve grandchildren, playing an important and invaluable role in each of their lives. Kathy and Roger created lasting memories with every one of them,
whether it was baking kuchens with her daughter and the twins at Christmastime, taking the first grandchildren to see the lights at Oglebay when they were younger, making chocolates and
candies like her own mother used to do, or attending ALL kinds of activities and events. Kathy made an indelible mark on each one of her grandchildren’s hearts and lives. Kathy had a wide variety of interests, from going to Broadway plays and performances at various theaters across the country and being a long-time donor to Playhouse Square, to supporting St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital as an Ambassador of Hope for years. She attended concerts ranging from Liberace, to Barry Manilow, and Garth Brooks to Elton John. She loved watching Cleveland sports, especially her Tribe! Even in the last days of her life, she was rooting for her favorite team! Kathy was a beautiful person, inside and out. Her smile lit up every room, and the scent of her perfume always brought a sense of calm and safety. She was strong and courageous, even though she never thought so, and always so supportive and understanding. Her faith could move mountains! She made an impact on so many lives, and will be forever missed. Rest peacefully in Heaven now, Sitti.

Contributions in memory of Kathy suggested to St. Maron Chapel (Independence), the St. Peter Chanel Foundation, or the Cleveland Hearing & Speech Center. Mass of Christian Burial Wednesday, June 7, 2023, at St. Maron Catholic Church, 1245 Carnegie Ave., Cleveland, at 10:30 AM. Interment following in Calvary Cemetery. Family will receive friends to pay tribute and celebrate the life of Kathy at THE DeJOHN-FLYNN-MYLOTT FUNERAL HOME OF SOUTH EUCLID, 4600 MAYFIELD RD. (just East of Green Rd.) TUESDAY 5-8 PM. Prayers of Incense at 7:30 PM.