Kay Hitchner

Kay Annette Hitchner passed away peacefully on Sunday, June 22, 2025, at the age of 87.

She is survived by her son, Curtis L. Hitchner, and his wife, Rita; and four grandchildren: Shaina Hosley and her husband, Joe, of Fletcher, North Carolina; Aaron Danner of Gerton, North Carolina; Carrie González Barba and her husband, José, of Sylvania, Ohio; and Tim Hitchner and his wife, BreAnn, of Providence, Rhode Island. She was the proud great-grandmother of three: Brynlee Ember Hosley, Lina Lucia González Barba, and Nico Julian González Barba.

She was preceded in death by her beloved husband of 54 years and high school sweetheart, Curtis M. Hitchner Jr., and her loving daughter, Wendy Kay Danner.

Kay faced significant challenges early in life and was raised by a generous foster family whose love and encouragement helped shape her path. Her foster sister, Laura, inspired her to pursue nursing—a calling she embraced with compassion and dedication. Kay graduated as a Registered Nurse from Cooper Hospital School of Nursing in Camden, New Jersey, in 1959. She began her career working in the offices of general practitioners and surgical doctors.

She and her family lived in Pitman, New Jersey, until 1973, when they moved to Toledo, Ohio, through her husband’s career with Owens Corning Fiberglass.

A natural nurturer, Kay had a gift for making people feel at home. Holiday dinners were always lively and full of unexpected guests—from church newcomers to recently widowed friends, there was always room at her table. Her kindness and empathy, shaped by her own early struggles, showed in her lifelong habit of befriending and caring for others.

She remembered birthdays with handwritten cards, delivered handmade quilts, and gifted framed cross-stitch masterpieces to mark life's milestones. Her passion for sewing and crafting left behind treasured keepsakes and warm reminders of her love.

Kay and Curtis were instrumental in creating family vacations that drew their daughter’s North Carolina and son’s Ohio families together. They introduced their grandchildren to learning adventures through Elderhostel trips and spent retirement frequently traveling with friends and mission teams, including post-hurricane rebuilding efforts after Hurricane Katrina.

With a rare genealogical curiosity—fueled in part by the coincidence that her maiden name was also Hitchner—Kay spent years tracing the family's nearly 300-year history in America. She and Curtis contributed to two published books on the Hitchner name, preserving a legacy for generations to come.

She remained deeply active in church life through the years, singing in the choir at Covenant Presbyterian Church and later leading the sewing circle at Epworth United Methodist Church, where her faith and creativity found a joyful home.

Friends and family are invited to visit at Epworth United Methodist Church, Toledo, OH, on Tuesday, July 1, 2025, from 3 p.m. to 4 p.m., with a memorial service beginning at 4 p.m.

The family extends heartfelt thanks to the dedicated caregivers of Ashanti Hospice, Otterbein Sunset House (Sunflower Wing), and The Woodlands Independent Living Facility.

In lieu of flowers, donations in Kay’s memory may be made to Ashanti Hospice, 4040 Indian Rd Toledo, Ohio 43606