Kathleen (Kathy) Jean Fry of rural Columbia City died peacefully in the company of family at 5:05 p.m. Wednesday, September 27, 2023, at Lutheran Life Villages at Inverness, Fort Wayne where she was a resident since May 2022.

She was born May 10, 1942, in Payne, Ohio to the late Bernard and Catherine (Linder) Gonya. She spent her formative years in Payne with many cousins and friends nearby. Her family relocated to Warsaw, Indiana, and she graduated from Warsaw High School in 1960. In 1961, she married Phil A. Fry and lovingly cared for the home they created together in Columbia City for sixty-two years. Kathy and Phil have three children who survive her: Linda (Tom) Alt of Fort Wayne, Greg Fry, and Gwen Fisher both of whom reside in Columbia City. She was a devoted member of Saint Paul Catholic Church, Columbia City.

She loved to prepare meals for her family and was an excellent baker. She had vegetable gardens, canning and freezing the bounty each year. She turned her love of cooking into a career making meals for school children, first at Etna-Troy School, and eventually Mary Raber School.

She loved taking care of her yard and flowers and spending time outdoors on the swing under the maple tree with Phil. She loved babies and taking care of her grandchildren Chelsie (Jared) Kirtlan, Brea (Chris) Shull, Albert Fry, and Lena Alt brought her much joy. She was also blessed with one great grandchild, Andrew Kirtlan.

She is survived by her husband, Phil; siblings, Michael (Louise) Gonya, Maryanne (Robert) Clark, Carol (Stan) Schwartz, and Nancy (Tom) Barker, and many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by brothers William, Robert, and John Gonya.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday at St Paul of the Cross Catholic Church, 315 South Line St., Columbia City.  Burial is at the South Park Annex Cemetery.  Visitation is 9 a.m. until the service Thursday at the church.

Memorials in Kathleen's honor are to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital or St. Paul of the Cross Catholic Church.