Kathleen A. Crawford

Kathleen was born March 17, 1948, to Marcella Mackert and Gerald Largent I in Cleveland, Ohio, and died in her home in Martin, Ohio, Thursday, January 10, 2008, from pancreatic cancer. Kathleen was raised in Lorain, Ohio, before moving to Brownhelm Township, Ohio, and graduated from Firelands High School. She entered religious life at the Notre Dame Community, Chardon, Ohio, in 1966 taking the name of Sister Mary David Francis, NND; honoring her brother David, who died in 1953, and her maternal grandfather, Frank Mackert, who taught her piano and the love of music. Kathleen realized that she was meant to be a wife and mother. She married Thomas H. Crawford May 15, 1971, after his safe return from military service in Vietnam; he survives. To this union are three children: Erik Ann Crawford, Martin, Julie Kurt Amstutz, Gibsonburg, and Sean Mary Crawford, Millbury. Kathleens beloved children and grandchildren, Ethan, Samantha, Brody, and Garrett, all survive. In 1983 after Tom was permanently laid off from GM in Sandusky, Kathy returned to work as a nurse. She was severely injured twice, becoming a paraplegic, which changed her life as well as her familys lives. The family moved to Martin, Ohio, after Tom successfully transferred to GM Powertrain, Toledo, Ohio. Kathy and her family are members of Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church in Genoa, Ohio. Kathy lived the life of Christs disciples by being involved in many church ministries. She became a Charismatic Catholic through her association with the Anglo Prayer Group. She became co-leader of the prayer group, founding her own Reach-Out Ministry, to disabled persons and was chosen to relate her life at a Holy Toledo Charismatic Conference at the Seagate Center. Kathy was also a member of the Militia Immaculata and a Knight at the Foot of the Cross prayer warrior. She became a Secular Franciscan on October 4, 2004, following her mother and maternal grandparents in honoring her favorite saint, St. Francis of Assisi. Kathy enjoyed teaching her faith as a CCD teacher to children and to adults through the R.C.I.A. program. She led Christ Renews His Parish as Lay Director and gave an inspirational talk on discipleship. To honor the love of her grandparents and the Lord, Kathy was also a choir member and musician. She became semi-retired due to her injuries but continued to be as active as possible as a wife, mother, and servant of God. In addition to Kathleens immediate family, she is survived by one brother, Gerald A. Rhonda Largent II, Huntington Township, Ohio, and sisters, Pat Dennis German, Amherst, Ohio, Rose Dempsey, Lorain, Ohio, and Janie Jerry Betka, Woodville, Ohio. She is also survived by her mother-in-law, Katherine Crawford, Lorain, Ohio, sister-in-law, Jenny Jessie Sherrill, Crossville, TN, and brother-in-law, Jerry Sherry Crawford, Berlin Heights, Ohio. In heaven to greet her are her parents and brother, David. Visitation will be 2-4 and 6-8 p.m. Sunday, January 13, 2008, in the Robinson-Walker Funeral Home, Genoa, and from 9-10 a.m. Monday, January 14, 2008, in Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church. A scripture service will be conducted in the funeral home by the 3rd Order Lay Franciscan Order at 7:30 p.m. Sunday evening. The Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10:00 a.m., Monday, January 14, 2008, in Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church with interment to follow in Clay Township Cemetery, Genoa. Immediately following the graveside services the family will gather for fellowship and meal in the church hall. At Kathys request, any memorials are to be made to Our Lady of Lourdes to make the Grotto and Stations of the Cross wheelchair accessible.