Kathleen Craig

Kathleen Craig, 67, passed away on Monday, May 9, 2022, from complications of metastatic cancer.  She was bravely fighting a battle that was impossible to win.  Her strength and determination to maintain her spirit enabled her to outlive her initial terminal diagnosis by several months.  She took her last breaths peacefully at home, with both of her daughters by her side giving comfort and praying for God to guide her, while also listening to some of her favorite music by ELO (Electric Light Orchestra).

Kathleen was known to family and many friends by the nickname “Hardy”, as “Mom” to her daughters and some of their closest friends, and as “Mingo Mimi” to her granddaughters.  She was born in Nazareth, Pennsylvania on May 11, 1954, and passed away just shy of her 68th birthday on 05/11.  Interestingly though, her time of death was 5:11 (pm).

Kathleen enjoyed listening to a variety of music, especially rock-and-roll, and music that would make you want to move.  She liked to watch action movies with loud effects, and those with award winning soundtracks.  She also liked to play Bejeweled and Solitaire on her iPad.

What Kathleen may be the most well-known for is her incredible talent for sewing, crochet, and making crafts.  She began learning how to sew and crochet during high school.  Throughout the course of her life, she continued to maintain her passion for creating unique, personalized, made-to-fit clothes, afghan blankets, and other gifts and items for her home, family, friends, educators, and others.  Each item Kathleen made, be it anything from crochet slippers and Easter eggs, her famous animal bag-holders, award winning costumes and cosplay outfits, wedding, prom, and party dresses, or simple alterations, they were all handmade with love in each stitch.  At the beginning of the Covid pandemic, during the midst of her battle with cancer, Kathleen even devoted time to making masks to give away.  Maintaining her ability to continue serving others with her passion was paramount to her quality of life.  She was selfless and giving and enjoyed using her talents as a gift to those around her. 

Kathleen graduated from Saint Joseph Central High School in Pittsfield, Massachusetts in 1972.  After graduation, she immediately began a career as a Secretary.  Within just a few months, and onward, she was the Secretary for various Program Managers in General Electric’s Aerospace Division.  Becoming a Secretary was something Kathleen aspired to be, and her accomplishments highlighting her excellent work habits, consistent accuracy, and cheerful nature were often recognized in company support letters.  She worked for General Electric/Lockheed Martin Corporation for 20 years.

While working at General Electric, Kathleen met her husband-to-be, Kenneth Craig, who was also working for GE at the time.  Kathleen and Ken were married August 31, 1991, and they celebrated their honeymoon at Niagara Falls.  They liked to travel together and stay at various timeshares along the Florida coastline and enjoyed traveling to meet and visit with their family and friends in other locations, such as Myrtle Beach, Las Vegas, California, and Massachusetts, among many other places.  In addition to travel, they liked seeing movies in the theater, playing miniature golf, and sight-seeing.  They enjoyed almost 30 years of marriage together before Ken’s passing, during which time they moved from Massachusetts to Florida, then to South Carolina, and finally Colorado.

Kathleen is survived by her daughter Kaitlin, daughter Eileen, grandchildren Holly and Natalie, as well as two sisters and three brothers, eight nieces and nephews, and many additional great nieces and nephews.  She is preceded in death by her husband, parents, and older sister.

She was laid to rest wearing a favorite dress that she had made herself.  Per her wishes, a funeral or service will not be performed.  A small memorial was held by her immediate family, at her home in Thornton, Colorado, on her birthday.  Her daughters and granddaughters blew bubbles up to Heaven and filled them with kisses and verbal thanks for all the wonderful memories that were made and items that were sewn and crafted over the years.

Kathleen had a giving spirit and believed in giving back.  In honor of this, the family requests a donation to your local Hospice organization be given in her name.  Denver Hospice was instrumental to the family’s care of Kathleen in her final days and helped to ensure a comfortable transition for her.  She remained strong right through to the end, setting a graceful example to follow, and living by her signature words: “It’s a wonderful life if you don’t weaken.”

Please share your memories of Kathleen!

It is touching to read all the different ways that she impacted the lives of those around her with her talents and generosity.

She will be tremendously missed...

Kenneth Craig's obituary is listed here.

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