Kathleen Ahern worked as a librarian for the Barrington Area Library for 22 years, then volunteered her time in retirement to help open a library for Holy Family Catholic Academy in Inverness.
Before the academy opened in 2002, Mrs. Ahern bought materials and furnishings, selected books and automated the card catalog for the new school’s library. When it opened, she was a volunteer librarian and read stories to children.
“She blew everyone’s mind with what she did over there,” said her husband, Walter. “She was a go-getter in a humble way. She wouldn’t take credit for anything, but she single-handedly did a lot of amazing things.”
Mrs. Ahern, 70, of Inverness died Wednesday, Dec. 28, from cancer at Advocate Good Shepherd Hospital in Barrington.
The library at Holy Family was dedicated in her name Dec. 8.
Mrs. Ahern was born in Chicago and grew up in South Shore. She graduated from Loretto Academy in 1952.
She attended Mundelein College, then a women’s school next to Loyola University, where her husband attended school. They rode the same train to classes and began dating. Mrs. Ahern graduated in 1956, and they were married in 1957.
As her six children grew, she worked in the English department at Buffalo Grove High School, helping students write essays. She also volunteered in the library at St. Theresa School in Palatine and began taking library science classes.
She received a master’s in library science from Northern Illinois University in 1983.
“She had six children, a house in Inverness to take care of, two golden retrievers and a cat, and she found time to go get her master’s degree,” her husband said. “She was a strong woman.”
She retired as a librarian at the Barrington Area Library in 2001 but regretted the decision, telling her husband that she flunked retirement.
“She loved a challenge and always wanted a project to dig into,” he said.
Mrs. Ahern was very involved with her grandchildren and was known for her thoughtful Christmas and birthday presents. “She knew everything about them and they adored her,” her husband said.
She returned from library conferences with autographed books for her grandchildren and gave each of them a Christmas ornament every Thanksgiving, bought during the couple’s travels to Europe.
She was described by her husband as a “no-fear type of sailor” on Lake Michigan.
“The waves would be high, the wind would be high, and she’d be out there doing the deck work,” he said. “In between, she’d run down into the cabin to bring food and drinks to our guests.”
“She was very friendly and always had a smile,” her husband said. “Little things didn’t bother her at all. She was a really cute lady and very well loved.”
Other survivors include three daughters, Mary Ann Stubitz, Carol Thelen and Nancy Gelpke; three sons, Jim , Paul and Ted; a brother, Richard Cronin; and 18 grandchildren.
Visitation will be from 3 to 9 p.m. Friday at Smith-Corcoran Funeral Home, 185 E. Northwest Highway, Palatine. Mass will be said at 9:30 a.m. Saturday at Holy Family Catholic Church, 2515 W. Palatine Rd., Inverness.
