Kathleen "Kathy" McOmber

Kathleen “Kathy” McOmber, 88, formerly of Coal Valley, passed away, November 21, 2024, at her residence in Oak Brook, IL.

Funeral Mass will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday, November 26, 2024, at St. Maria Goretti Catholic Church, Coal Valley. Visitation will be one hour prior to services on Tuesday at the church. Interment will be at the Coal Valley Cemetery. Memorials may be made to the St. Maria Goretti Catholic Church, Coal Valley. 

Kathy was born on June 30, 1936, in Butte, Montana, the daughter of Anne (Driscoll) and Alfred E. Burke. Kathy graduated from Seattle University in June of 1959, with a degree in Elementary Education. She worked as an elementary school teacher in Pacific Grove, CA, until her marriage to Frank in Carmel, CA.

She and Frank traveled to Norfolk, VA, where she taught school until Frank completed his active service with the Navy in March of 1966. They both then moved to Moline, where she substitute taught until they moved to Orion. She then became a stay-at-home mom for their two daughters. When the girls were older, Kathy obtained a full-time position in the Colona School District where she retired in June of 2000.

Kathy was active in her church, serving on many committees and taking part in various programs, both local and for the Peoria Diocese. She was also a charter member of the Orion Corn Cob Players community theatre group. She enjoyed co-directing several plays and many other activities associated with the group. Kathy loved being a wife, mom, grandmother, and great-grandmother. She was very sociable and kept track of friends from Montana, Washington, California, and the Quad Cities area.

Survivors include her husband Frank of Oak Brook, IL; children, Michele (Mike) Lay of Lombard, IL, Kimberly Bock of Denton, TX; 5 grandchildren; 2 great-grandchildren; many nieces and nephews; and brother, Bill Burke of Donaldson, IN.

She was preceded in death by her parents and sisters Anne Marie Burke and Sheila Bruce.

Memories may be shared online by visiting esterdahl.com.