Kathleen Wons Dies

Kathleen Dies was born in Cambridge, MA on January 3, 1951 to Peter and Eleanor Wons.  The oldest of five children, she attended public schools until the family moved to Dedham, when she went to Girls’ Latin, then Dedham High. She graduated from UMass Amherst in 1972 with a B.S. in Industrial Engineering, only passing organic chemistry by promising never to touch chemistry ever again.

Kathy then went to work for GE on helicopter engines in an era when being a woman in engineering was super easy and widely accepted.  She later moved to Pro Brush, and finally to the Dixie Paper Goods Division of American Can, where she met the man who would become her husband.

Kathy and Harding were married in 1980 and had three children, Erik, Andrew, and Molly.  The arts and crafts she started with her kids - clay beads, Ukranian Easter eggs, ceramics, jewelry, etc. - would become lifelong hobbies she would introduce to scores of children.  Kathy was active in the PTA and volunteer work through Grace church while her children were in school.

She went back to work as an Executive Assistant to the Sales VP for Neasi-Weber while taking Masters classes in Education at Manhattanville University.  Kathy then started work for MRM, providing Education Consulting to the Bridgeport and Stamford school systems.  She volunteered for the Sweet Mother Project, providing funding and materials to the FAWE girls’ school in Sierra Leone, again supporting education.  In 2009 she took her first trip outside of the United States, visiting the FAWE girls’ school and delighting the girls with her rolling suitcase of those same arts and crafts.

On any given day, Kathy could be found exploring a new exhibit or attraction, finding a new lunch spot, or sitting at home with a hot cup of tea giving advice to a lucky recipient through one of the many phone calls she received each day. Any visitor to her home was welcomed with easy and intellectual conversation, plenty of snacks, and, if you were fortunate enough, a "friendly" game of Spite and Malice or Rummikub. She offered a grounding and peaceful presence that gave others positivity and strength.

Kathleen is survived by her husband Harding, her three children Erik, Andrew, and Molly, her sister Susan in Dedham, MA, brothers Kevin (Mickey) and wife Karen in Fallston, MD, Peter and wife Jean in Dover, NH, Bobby and wife Patty in Stratham, NH, eight nieces and nephews, and a grandniece and a grandnephew.

A Memorial Service will be held on Saturday, March 30, 2019 from 1:00 pm - 3:00 pm at Hoyt-Cognetta/Lesko Funeral Home, In Historic Norwalk, 5 East Wall Street, Norwalk, CT.   Please visit www.norwalkfh.com to leave an online condolence for the family and for more information.