Mary Catherine "Kathy" Catrambone

Devoted daughter of the late Joseph and the late Marian (nee Danza) Catrambone; dear sister of Angela Marie, Judith “Judy” (Myra Tatarowicz), Joseph Jr. “Joey” (Dennis Otten) and Monica (Joseph) Rondone; beloved aunt and great-aunt, loving cousin and friend of many.

Kathy was the co-author of books on the history of Chicago's Taylor Street-Little Italy and the town of Wauconda and was working on a third book at the time of her passing. She was an accomplished and highly regarded journalist, editor, and writer for decades, serving as Reporter, Editor, Editor-in-Chief, and Bureau Chief for such publications as Pioneer Press, Press Publications, and Crain’s. She won over a dozen Illinois journalism awards for herself and her publications.

Kathy served as Executive Director of the Chicago Headline Club ( chapter of the Society for Professional Journalists) and the University Village Association.

She was a proud former Board Member of The Hubbard Street Dance Company for more than a quarter of a century.  Kathy taught as an Adjunct professor at Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism and Columbia College.

Kathy's passion for local history led her to partner with the Chicago Historical Society (now Chicago History Museum) on helping direct, create, develop or write two shows regarding the development of the near West Side and the subsequent impact on the communities located there: “Out of the Loop” and “Rooting, Uprooting the West Side.” She was a guest on NPR and PBS on this topic.

One of her most passionate efforts was spearheading the development of The Catrambone Family Memorial Park at Polk and Bowler.  She would want  you to go visit and learn about the immigrant experience through the story of the Chicago Italian-American Catrambone family. Her devotion to community even led her to serve as a Red Cross volunteer in the Gulf region after Hurricane Katrina.  

Kathy was an avid world traveler, experiencing multiple European visits, including her family's Italian villages of Gasperina in Calabria and Accerra near Naples, as well as the Olympics and many places throughout the United States.  She was also a legendary theatre-goer, avidly attending shows in Chicago and on Broadway in NYC.  

And, as we all know,  Kathy is now either blissfully interviewing Gene Kelly or dancing and singing in the rain with him!

Visitation will be held at Michael Coletta Sons Funeral Home 544 W. 31st St. (Chicago) on Sunday; July 12th from 1:00 P.M.-6:00 P.M. Visitation on Monday, July 13th from 8:00 A.M.- time of Chapel Prayers 9:20 A.M. followed by procession to Shrine of Our Lady of Pompeii 1224 W. Lexington St. (Chicago) for Mass of Christian Burial 10:00 A.M.. Interment Mt. Carmel Cemetery.

Although appreciated, IN LIEU OF FLOWERS,  please consider instead donating to the  Little Sisters of the Poor and Misericordia.

Send donations to:                                                                                                       

Little Sisters of the Poor                                                                                                            

  2325 N. Lakewood Ave.                                                                                                     

     Chicago,  IL, 60614       

Little Sisters of the Poor 

Send donations to:   

Misericordia                 

6300 N. Ridge Ave.                       

Chicago, IL 60660  

Misercordia

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