Kathleen Ann Hedstrom
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Kathleen Ann Hedstrom (nee Schelble) died unexpectedly Tuesday, September 27th in Concord, NH.
Born January 23rd, 1944 in Milwaukee, WI, Kathleen was the middle child of 7. She attended Holy Angels Academy high school and Marquette University, graduating first in her nursing school class in 1966. After Marquette, Kathy moved to Oakland, CA, where she worked as a nurse at the VA Hospital. She then moved to Boston, and worked as a nurse at Massachusetts General Hospital. In 1971 she married Dexter Hedstrom, and in 1972 they moved to Kelley's Corner in Chichester, NH. In Chichester, Kathy devoted herself to her family; raising her children, cooking, gardening, raising farm animals, and gently coercing her husband and children to the front right pew at Our Lady of Lourdes church in Pittsfield every Sunday at 8am. Kathy loved children, and devoted her life to raising her family there.
For Kathy, and all her family, visiting her parents' home at East Apple Tree Road in Milwaukee was a family highlight for many years. Despite the long, crowded, station-wagon drives, the time spent in that big yet cozy house was magical. The wonderful hospitality of her parents and family, and the delicious food, made for many special Christmas and summer memories.
Kathy was a devoted mother. She showed her love with countless hours raising her five children and caring for her 15 grandchildren, always putting meals on the table, always demonstrating a strong moral character and faith, and always being present for those she loved in their hardest moments. Family was the most important thing in Kathy's life. The day she died, she was packing all her possessions to move to Maine the next day, to be closer to her children and grandchildren.
In 1996 Kathy and Dexter moved to Bow Lake in Strafford, NH, where she loved hosting family and friends for dinners on the lake. Kathy worked as a nurse at the Odd Fellows Home in Concord, and she volunteered at Hospice. She was a member of the Strafford Garden Club, the Friendly Visitors program, and she was a faithful parishioner and volunteer at Immaculate Heart of Mary church.
In 2005, Kathy moved to Concord, where she immersed herself in her great friendships, her church, and her volunteer work at New Hampshire Right to Life. Kathy rode her bike, skied, and ice skated as long as her health would allow, and she walked for exercise right until the end. Her hobbies included quilting, cooking, and making beautiful lamp shades.
Kathy is predeceased by her husband of 32 years, Herbert Dexter Hedstrom, her mother Teresa Schelble (nee McCormick), her father, Dr. John Schelble, and her grandson, Theodore Hedstrom.
She is survived by all six of her siblings and their spouses, Mary Terese Schelble, Paul and Dianne Schelble, James and Billie Schelble, Johnny and Carol Schelble, Patrick and Sally Schelble, Michael Schelble, and Judi Schelble; her children, including her son, John, and his three daughters, Gwen, Daphne, and Julia; her daughter Joanna, and her husband Steve, and their children Anja and Soren; her son Tom, and his five surviving children Connor, Brady, Cameron, Pearl, and Nicolas; her son Chris, and his wife Holly, and their children Oliver and Vivien; and her son Mike, and his wife Meghan, and their sons Dexter and Finnegan.
Kathleen had a lifelong best friend in her older sister, Mary Terese Schelble, and they lovingly supported each other throughout life, in Milwaukee, Boston, New Hampshire, and many places they traveled together.
A funeral mass will be held Wednesday October 5th, at Immaculate Heart of Mary Church 180 Loudon Rd. Concord, at 10:30am.
Donations in Kathy's honor can be made to NH Right to Life, Care Net Pregnancy Center, or Immaculate Heart of Mary church.