Katharine Schuh
Katharine “Kelly” Mary Schuh, 87, of Huron, Ohio, passed away peacefully at home on Saturday, March 28, 2020, her children at her side.
Known to many as Kelly or Kay, she was born on November 16, 1932 in Chicago, Illinois to John and Agnes (McKinley) Kelly. Her father died when Kelly was 2 years of age, and she and her brother Jack, a year older, were raised by their very Irish piano-playing mother. Kelly graduated from Immaculata High School in 1950, then attended St. Francis Hospital School of Nursing, earning her diploma as an RN in 1953. She went on to get her bachelor’s degree in nursing from BGSU at age 60. She worked as a nurse in Chicago and California before starting a family and in later years worked as a nurse at Cedar Point, the Lehrer Clinic, and the American Lung Association.
In 1953 Kelly married Richard Matthew Schuh of Chicago, Illinois. Their honeymoon was a drive out to the West coast where Dick was an officer in the US Navy. After his discharge they moved to Cincinnati for a time, then in 1960 moved to Huron and built their home. They raised 3 children, and while the census bureau would list her occupation as “homemaker”, Kelly kept busy volunteering her time and talents. An accomplished seamstress, she sewed costumes for shows with The Huron Playhouse, Firelands College Theater, and Huron High School spring musicals. She was voted Huron’s Woman of the Year in 1971, honoring her involvement as a group leader with Volunteers In Action, member of League of Women Voters, President of St Peter School Board, Girl Scouts day camp director and Coordinator of Huron’s Red Cross Disaster Unit. Kelly also spent many hours working with an adult literacy program.
Kelly and Dick were active members of St Peter Catholic Church, working at the church festivals of yore, being CCD teachers to the teenagers, and were involved with VREC (Vatican II Religious Education), and CFM (Christian Family Movement) activities including home Masses. Kelly learned to play the guitar during this time, she and Rosemary Reese providing accompaniment for the guitar Masses in the late ’60’s and early ‘70’s. She was a Eucharistic lay minister for the homebound or hospitalized St. Peter family.
Kelly loved to entertain, her philosophy being “the more the merrier”, especially if there was a sing-along. She hosted many dinner parties and was not shy about trying out new recipes on her guests, although the tried and true all-time favorite was her lasagna.
Kelly was one of the founding members of The Lake Erie Irish Cultural Society which provided Huron with an Irish Festival which ran for 25 grand and glorious years. Many hours of planning, laughter and blarney went into pulling off the annual event at the Huron Boat Basin.
Kelly and Dick enjoyed travel, and the family took countless trip to Chicago to see family and friends. As a couple they travelled to Ireland and Germany to see the land where their grandparents were born. They also toured St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands and London, which Kelly recently commented was her favorite destination. Later they kept things closer to home, renting a beach house on Folly Beach, S.C. for a month each year during March. The family’s St. Patrick’s Day celebrations took on a Southern flavor at Tommy Condon’s Irish Pub in Charleston. Visitors to the Folly Beach house could always pick out the Schuh’s place by the traditional shamrocks in the windows.
Kelly and Dick were married for 65 years, Dick having passed away in June 2019. She is survived by her children Kathleen (Joe) Baird of Columbus, Karen (Mac) Lehrer of Huron and Bob (Sandy) Schuh of Huron; grandchildren Andrea Baird, Kelly Lehrer, Matthew Lehrer, Erin Lehrer and Connor Schuh; many nieces and nephews.
She is preceded in death by husband Dick; parents John and Agnes Kelly Gass; stepfather Dennis Gass; brother John (Jack) Kelly.
Kelly will be remembered for her smile, infectious laugh, carefree, generous and welcoming spirit and true love for life. Never will we see a shamrock, pink flamingo or hear Irish music and not be reminded of our strong, loving Irish mother.
In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to Dial a Ride c/o 505 Oneida View, Huron, Ohio 44839
Arrangements are tentatively planned for this summer, with details to be announced at a later date.
Online condolences may be shared at fosterfh.com.
Foster Funeral Home & Crematory, Huron, is assisting with arrangments.
“Pray for me as I will for thee that we may merrily meet in heaven”
St. Thomas More