Kathleen R. Calistri

Kathi was born November 21, 1942, in Hollis, N.Y., borough of Queens. The family relocated to Binghamton, N.Y., when she was seven years old. She graduated from St. Paul's High School, Binghamton, N.Y., class of 1960. She attended New Paltz State, where she concentrated her studies in art. She was a gifted artist, talented seamstress, and friend to anyone she met. She worked in the printing and art department of Security Mutual Life Insurance Company in Binghamton, N.Y. She was highly respected and relied upon for her creative art work for many of the company's sales and marketing materials. Her elegant beauty afforded her the opportunity to do TV fashion modeling in the early '60s for Binghamton's most exclusive women's apparel store, Drazen's, City of Fashion. She married Eugene Calistri in 1965, gave birth to Lisa Marie Calistri in 1967, and moved to Syracuse, N.Y., in 1970. She was a loving, devoted mother to Lisa Marie, Christopher Gene and Dana Kathleen. She opted to be a stay-at-home mom to raise her children. She put her stellar sewing skills to task and hand-made many of her children's clothing from bathing suits to Easter dresses. She also tried her hand at upholstery and reupholstered the family's living room couch, chair and recliner. The living room became a temporary upholstery shop.

Kathi returned to the workforce in the mid-'80s in Syracuse for Unity Mutual Insurance Company, where she excelled at computer programming and statistical analysis. She was separated and divorced in 1985 and met her lifelong partner/husband, Christofer Bonaparte, in 1987. In 1992, she relocated to Raleigh, North Carolina, to work with Penncorp Financial Group. After several years with Penncorp, she changed companies and went with Universal Conversion Technologies where she continued to build upon her technical skills and became senior business analyst. In 2009, Kathi left the corporate 9-to-5 world and chose to be an independent consultant with Conseco Life Insurance Company, working on large data conversion projects for insurance company clients as a systems analyst. After turning 70 and a monumental visit to Graceland, Kathi retired from private consulting work to spend more time doing the things she loved, tending to her home improvements, her yard and garden, and having fun with her grandchildren, Kaia, Ella and Luca.

Kathi was a brave warrior in her fight against cancer, always seeing the positive in the face of incredible challenges, and holding steadfast to her simple wisdom of "take what comes; let what goes." She dealt with her cancer as she did all things, with grace, dignity and perseverance.

In lieu of flowers, the family is requesting donations be made to any of the following charitable organizations: Transitions LifeCare; Autism Society of North Carolina; Colorectal Cancer Alliance; St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.

PRECEDED IN DEATH BY:

Her parents, Henry and Eleanor Keleher; brother, Kevin; sister, Madeline "Mimi" Glennon.

SURVIVED BY:

Husband, Christofer Bonaparte; Daughter, Lisa Calistri; Son, Christopher Calistri; Daughter-in-law, Amy Calistri; Daughter, Dana Dopko; Son-in-law, Jeff Dopko; Grandchildren, Kaia, Ella, Luca; Sister, Pat Couse; Brother, Hank Keleher; Sister-in-law, Gail Keleher; numerous nieces and nephews and many dear friends.

IN GRATITUDE:

The doctors and nurses at Duke Raleigh Cancer Center who walked with Kathi through her illness, providing comfort, support and compassionate treatment.