Kathryn Ann Sackett (née Specht), age 76, of Conneaut, Ohio passed away Tuesday, May 30, 2017. Surrounded by family, she found peace at home in her childhood neighborhood of Amboy--across the street from the house that her father built. After 28 years apart, she rests with her beloved husband Micky.

Born on South Amboy Road in the home of her Aunt Kate, Kathy was the fifth of eight children born to Frank and Marian Specht. Her parents were primarily of Anglo-Saxon and Eastern European heritage with maternal ancestry from the Azores of Portugal. She graduated from Rowe High School in 1959.

Kathy was married to Micky, her childhood friend and love of her life, for nearly 27 years until his death in 1989. Together they had two children and two grandchildren.“Grandma Kate” adored her two granddaughters; they were truly the light of her life.

Kathy was respected for her long career as Transportation Coordinator and Head School Bus Driver for Conneaut Area City Schools. She drove school bus for 38 years and is affectionately remembered by many former Conneaut students and employees.

Kathy was known for her wonderful sense of humor and big heart. She loved being a mother and grandmother. She dedicated her time as a PTA mom, Boy Scouts Den Mother, and CHS Band-O Mom for both her children and granddaughter. For decades, she taught young children school bus safety at a local summer program called Safety Town. She also performed comedic skits in the Conneaut Capers annual fundraiser program for 10 years. Kathy enjoyed cooking the Italian-American dishes she had learned from her mother-in-law Josephine. “Aunt Kathy’s” meatballs, marinara, lasagna, and spaghetti with clams and oil are cherished family favorites. Over the years, she lovingly produced thousands of meatballs for family dinners, First Holy Communion celebrations, graduation open houses, and school fundraisers.

She loved to travel, spend time with her granddaughters, plan family picnics at Township Park, play cards with her sisters, play bocce, and host community dinners at Fire Station 4 as a member of the West Lakeville Hose Boosters. The waters of Lake Erie and Conneaut Creek coursed through her veins. She loved and doted upon her many animal companions throughout her life.

Kathy was preceded in death by her husband Leo "Micky" Sackett; her parents Francis X. and Marian A. Specht (née Nickels); parents-in-law Leo K. and Josephine C. Sackett (née Mecci); brother Francis Gerald "Jerry" Specht and sister Christine "Chrissy" Ingersoll (née Specht); siblings-in-law Norma “Jean” Specht (née Valenti), Francis McKinley, John Sackett, and Terry Sabo (née Sackett); and nieces and nephew Margaret “Peggy” Partee (née Specht), Taamy Schultz (née Eckonen), and Thomas “Bo” Eckonen.

She is survived by her two children Carrie Sackett Lebzelter (Joseph Chadwick) of Conneaut, and Scott Denver Sackett (Mark Mraz) of Bay Village; two grandchildren Rachel Lebzelter of Conneaut, and Lauren Lebzelter of Davenport, Iowa; step-grandchildren Anthony, Amanda, and Alyssa Chadwick of Conneaut; siblings Richard (Kathy) Specht, Paul (Joyce) Specht, Marian McKinley, Susan (Dennis) McDonald, and Robert Specht (Arthur Bailey) of Richmond, Virginia; siblings-in-law Paul James Sackett of Iron City, Tennessee, and Georgina "Gigi" Drnek (née Sackett) of Andover, Ohio; her dear friend Sharon Hayes of Guys Mills, Pennsylvania; and numerous nieces and nephews.

The Sackett Family wishes to express gratitude to Joanne Kennedy, Mary “Judy” McKinley, Shawnette Burger, Hospice of the Western Reserve, and her nurse Robert for their support.

Proceeding cremation, a private funeral will be held in accordance with Kathy’s final wishes. In celebration of Kathy’s life, a memorial picnic will be held at Conneaut Township Park, at the upper pavilion, on Sunday, June 18th, 12:30 PM to 9:00 PM.

Donations in the name of Kathy Sackett may be made to Hospice of the Western Reserve or the Ashtabula Animal Protective League.

Hospice of the Western Reserve

116 Lake Ave.

Ashtabula, OH 44004

440-997-6619

For online donations visit: http://www.hospicewr.org/patients-and-caregivers/giving-back/Pages/Donate-Now.aspx

Please contact Raisian Funeral Home in Conneaut for further details. www.raisianfuneralhome.com

To our mom, Grandma Kate, Aunt Kathy: “We love you to the moon and back!”

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