Obituary for Kathleen Dombrowski
Kathleen Dombrowski, a gracious and lovely hostess, an amazing cook, a math whiz and a former corporate executive, has died in Seaford, Delaware.
Kathleen grew up in Detroit, Michigan, where she attended Immaculata High School and then college, and afterward pursued her career, eventually working as a corporate executive. During that time, Kathleen learned classical guitar and folk dancing, having performed in festivals, in addition to teaching dancing to students. She also enjoyed cooking, and to pursue her interest in gourmet cooking, she joined a cooking chat room on the internet, using the handle “gotta cook. ” It was in that chat room that Kathleen met her beloved husband, Rich, and thus began their relationship which lead to twenty years of a love filled marriage together.
Eventually, Kathleen moved to New Jersey, where she married Rich. Kathleen enjoyed gatherings at their home, especially at the family pool.
During holiday celebrations, after mass, Kathleen used family recipes carefully kept over two generations to create specialties for Rich and his son, Brian, whom Kathleen took to her heart and loved as her son. The decorations at their home, especially their Christmas trees, were so creatively designed that they could have been displayed at Saks Fifth Avenue. Kathleen’s very generous birthday and holiday packages always made the season bright for many families, especially for Kathleen’s loving Mother, Helene, and her loving niece, Aimee and her loving nephew, Randall.
Besides cooking and baking, Kathleen and Rich enjoyed many hobbies, especially rooting for Rich’s favorite baseball team, the New York Yankees. During one summer at their home in New Jersey, Kathleen helped Rich rescue a small Lhasa Apso, who came to their front door in a rainstorm. This great dog, eventually named “Max,” decided to stay with them, and kept them laughing and entertained for many years. Two other great rescue dogs, Bobbi and Jack, also brought joy to them.
Eventually, Kathleen and Rich relocated to Seaford, Delaware in 2005. With a love for nature and for the outdoors, Kathleen raised beautiful red roses with Rich in their large garden and enjoyed watching the hummingbirds flittering around their bird feeders. They hosted cookouts and Kathleen told stories about hearing foxes howling at night near their wooded home.
During this time, Kathleen worked in accounting at Delaware Technical Community College in Georgetown. She especially enjoyed helping the students navigate the system and she felt so happy when she was able to suggest ways they could finance their education. While working there, Kathleen met her special friend, Rebecca Johnson-Dennis. They loved to laugh and talk about food and recipes and a dream vacation in Bora Bora in a hut on the water with muumuus and big hats.
Wherever she lived, Kathleen made many friends with her sweet smile, quick wit and sense of humor that made people laugh out loud. Kathleen was also a very determined, independent person with a mind of her own. Another dear friend, Angel, truly lived up to her name by caring for Kathleen when her health began failing. Angel was the caregiver who was at Kathleen’s side daily and Kathleen’s family is forever grateful to her.
Kathleen had many favorite sayings, but one that she often used was: “I love you with all my heart.”
Kathleen’s grieving family and friends love her with all of their hearts too!
Kathleen’s beloved husband, Rich, predeceased her, along with her parents. Kathleen’s memory will be cherished by her beloved step-son Brian, and by her loving brother Bob, with his wife, Bernie; and by her loving twin sister, Barbara, with her husband, Huynh, and their two children, Aimee and Randall. Kathleen’s precious memory will be honored by her wonderful Uncle, Ernest Brosch, and by many cousins. Kathleen also will be remembered by her lovely friends at Del Tech, Twanya, Kedia and Joe, along with her wonderful friends Carol, John and Leona, and Anne, as well as by many other special people who brought joy to Kathleen’s life.
In lieu of flowers, please consider memorial gifts in Kathleen’s name to the Capuchin Soup Kitchen, 1820 Mt. Elliott, Detroit, MI 48207. or online at the cskdetroit.org website. Also, memorial gifts may be made in Kathleen’s name to support the Lung and Thoracic Oncology Research and Education Fund, c/o Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, 420 E. Superior Building, 9th Floor, Chicago IL 60611. If donating online, please indicate the Lung and Thoracic Oncology Research and Education Fund in the text box.
Thank you for your kindness and generosity in remembering Kathleen!
Kathleen grew up in Detroit, Michigan, where she attended Immaculata High School and then college, and afterward pursued her career, eventually working as a corporate executive. During that time, Kathleen learned classical guitar and folk dancing, having performed in festivals, in addition to teaching dancing to students. She also enjoyed cooking, and to pursue her interest in gourmet cooking, she joined a cooking chat room on the internet, using the handle “gotta cook. ” It was in that chat room that Kathleen met her beloved husband, Rich, and thus began their relationship which lead to twenty years of a love filled marriage together.
Eventually, Kathleen moved to New Jersey, where she married Rich. Kathleen enjoyed gatherings at their home, especially at the family pool.
During holiday celebrations, after mass, Kathleen used family recipes carefully kept over two generations to create specialties for Rich and his son, Brian, whom Kathleen took to her heart and loved as her son. The decorations at their home, especially their Christmas trees, were so creatively designed that they could have been displayed at Saks Fifth Avenue. Kathleen’s very generous birthday and holiday packages always made the season bright for many families, especially for Kathleen’s loving Mother, Helene, and her loving niece, Aimee and her loving nephew, Randall.
Besides cooking and baking, Kathleen and Rich enjoyed many hobbies, especially rooting for Rich’s favorite baseball team, the New York Yankees. During one summer at their home in New Jersey, Kathleen helped Rich rescue a small Lhasa Apso, who came to their front door in a rainstorm. This great dog, eventually named “Max,” decided to stay with them, and kept them laughing and entertained for many years. Two other great rescue dogs, Bobbi and Jack, also brought joy to them.
Eventually, Kathleen and Rich relocated to Seaford, Delaware in 2005. With a love for nature and for the outdoors, Kathleen raised beautiful red roses with Rich in their large garden and enjoyed watching the hummingbirds flittering around their bird feeders. They hosted cookouts and Kathleen told stories about hearing foxes howling at night near their wooded home.
During this time, Kathleen worked in accounting at Delaware Technical Community College in Georgetown. She especially enjoyed helping the students navigate the system and she felt so happy when she was able to suggest ways they could finance their education. While working there, Kathleen met her special friend, Rebecca Johnson-Dennis. They loved to laugh and talk about food and recipes and a dream vacation in Bora Bora in a hut on the water with muumuus and big hats.
Wherever she lived, Kathleen made many friends with her sweet smile, quick wit and sense of humor that made people laugh out loud. Kathleen was also a very determined, independent person with a mind of her own. Another dear friend, Angel, truly lived up to her name by caring for Kathleen when her health began failing. Angel was the caregiver who was at Kathleen’s side daily and Kathleen’s family is forever grateful to her.
Kathleen had many favorite sayings, but one that she often used was: “I love you with all my heart.”
Kathleen’s grieving family and friends love her with all of their hearts too!
Kathleen’s beloved husband, Rich, predeceased her, along with her parents. Kathleen’s memory will be cherished by her beloved step-son Brian, and by her loving brother Bob, with his wife, Bernie; and by her loving twin sister, Barbara, with her husband, Huynh, and their two children, Aimee and Randall. Kathleen’s precious memory will be honored by her wonderful Uncle, Ernest Brosch, and by many cousins. Kathleen also will be remembered by her lovely friends at Del Tech, Twanya, Kedia and Joe, along with her wonderful friends Carol, John and Leona, and Anne, as well as by many other special people who brought joy to Kathleen’s life.
In lieu of flowers, please consider memorial gifts in Kathleen’s name to the Capuchin Soup Kitchen, 1820 Mt. Elliott, Detroit, MI 48207. or online at the cskdetroit.org website. Also, memorial gifts may be made in Kathleen’s name to support the Lung and Thoracic Oncology Research and Education Fund, c/o Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, 420 E. Superior Building, 9th Floor, Chicago IL 60611. If donating online, please indicate the Lung and Thoracic Oncology Research and Education Fund in the text box.
Thank you for your kindness and generosity in remembering Kathleen!