On Thursday, June 23, 2022, Catherine Lee Considine (Cassie) Kilsdonk of Houston Texas, loving wife, mother, sister, and teacher, unexpectedly passed away during surgery at the age of 91. Cassie was born in 1931 in Washington DC to James and Carrie Considine. She joined older sister Carrie Marie, and was later joined by sisters Jane and Linda, and brother James. It was clear to everyone that the Considine’s loved one another but even more clear that they loved to share silliness, humor, and laughter with one another. Cassie carried that spirit of love and humor with her throughout her life.
Cassie attended Michigan State College with sisters Carrie Marie and Jane and graduated after studying art and education. She taught art in public schools before marrying. Like her sisters she was a beauty but somehow fell for the kindness and intellect of a tall redheaded engineer, war veteran, and Navy Reserve Officer named Martin Kilsdonk. Cassie and Marty made homes first in Birmingham and Bloomfield Hills, Michigan, and later in Vero Beach, Florida. They raised two sons in Michigan and Cassie volunteered as a children’s tutor and mentor after moving to Florida. Cassie had been a member of St. Hugo Catholic Church in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan and Holy Cross Catholic Church in Vero Beach, Florida. She had also been a member of Edgewood Country Club in Commerce, Michigan and of The Moorings Yacht and Country Club in Vero Beach. In 2019 Cassie moved to the Village of the Heights in Houston to be near her son.
Cassie was known both for her talent as an artist, and for her seemingly endless generosity creating art for others. She produced beautiful pencil drawings, charcoals, and paintings almost on demand when her sons or friends wanted to re-decorate. Sculptures from her college days graced her homes in Michigan and Florida. In Florida, she painted custom art designs on countless children’s stools as gifts for the asking. She also painted stools that raised what she called “ridiculous amounts” for charity auctions. She continued to create art and give it away until the end. Cassie’s generosity extended beyond art, she always wanted to help. The staff at the Village continually reminded her not to help push wheelchairs. She did it anyway.
Cassie was preceded in death by her parents, James and Carrie; her husband, Martin; her brother James Considine and Sister Carrie Marie Haan. She is survived by her sons, Martin William (Julie) Kilsdonk, and James Robert (Susan) Kilsdonk; grandsons Kevin James Kilsdonk, and John Martin Van Kilsdonk; sisters Jane Lemon and Linda Fitzmaurice and several loving cousins, nieces, and nephews. A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, September 17, 2022, at the Chapel of the Heights Funeral Home, 1317 Heights Blvd 77008. A reception will follow at the Houston home of Bill and Julie Kilsdonk.
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.heightsfuneralhome.com for the Kilsdonk family.
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