Anne M Kile

After more than 93 years of caring for her family and others, Anne Kile quietly passed away on January 30th losing her fight with COPD. She was born Anne Marie Serwat on Friday the 13th of February 1920, always considered a lucky day in her family because “Sis” came along right after her twin brother Adam (“Junior”). She grew up in the Chicago suburb of Berwyn with 3 brothers; this helped form her stubborn demeanor and tomboy interests. As a child she always preferred playing softball and roller skating rather than dolls. She attended St. Leonard’s Parish elementary school, and then graduated from Trinity High School in River Forest in 1938. Although getting to her high school required riding two buses and a streetcar, she preferred the Dominican nuns rather than the stricter St. Joseph nuns at her local school. After high school she spent two years caring for her ill mother in Berwyn, going on to attend the St. Margaret Hospital School of Nursing in Hammond, Indiana. She graduated and passed her State Board exams in 1943 and began working at MacNeil Memorial Hospital in Berwyn, later at a local doctor’s office assisting in the repair of gangster’s gunshot wounds (this was Chicago, remember). Her life wasn’t all work however. She loved to dance, and found the time to win first prize in a Jitterbug contest with a fellow named “Peanuts” Blaha. She always attributed her success to the fact that both were around 5 feet in stature. After the War she was cajoled into going on a blind date with former Naval aviator and United Air Lines pilot W. “Don” Kile, a country boy from Heyworth, Illinois. The date was a success, and they tied the knot 10 months later on July 26th, 1947 beginning 65 years of marriage. They had two children, Margaret Anne (Peggy) and Paul Donald. Anne always cared for those around her, using her nursing skills to care for sick relatives and friends and contributing to many charities throughout her life. Her hobbies included reading novels and non-fiction, cooking wonderful meals, and keeping her house spotless and well organized. She and Don and their children traveled all over the world, taking advantage of his airline discounts. She always loved the Dodgers, but never forgave them for moving to Los Angeles! She was also an accomplished hostess, throwing everything from 1950’s-era cocktail parties to theme events and 1980’s-style Sunday Brunches with the neighbor ladies.

Anne is survived by her younger brother Leonard Serwat, her children and their spouses (Peggy – Louis Gorman, Paul – Karen Niiya), her granddaughter (Anne Kile-Gorman and husband Nicholas Noreen) and her great-granddaughters (Emma, Lola, and Sadie Mae).

A Celebration of Anne’s life will be held on Saturday, February 22nd at 11:00 AM at the A.L. Moore-Grimshaw Mortuary, 710 West Bethany Home Road, Phoenix, AZ 85013. Donations in her honor may be made to Hospice of the Valley, 1510 E. Flower Street, Phoenix, AZ 85014.

We know Anne will appreciate your thoughts and words as she rejoins Don in the hereafter, no doubt tidying up after him on the journey.