Kathleen Lawler Crawford

Surrounded by people who loved her, Kathleen Lawler Crawford, 102 years old, slipped away from us September 28, 2018 at 5:00 pm. Born in Detroit, Michigan on July 28th 1916, she moved to West Palm Beach in 1941, where she resided for 77 years. Kathleen was preceded in death by her brother, William Patrick Lawler and parents, John and Gertrude Lawler. She is survived by her cousin, JoAnn White and her family members, and additional family in Michigan, North Carolina, Florida, as well as her goddaughter, Margaret Slattery.

In 1942 Kathleen began employment with the late, Edward Cushman, in a grocery store he managed. When he started his own business, she joined him as his assistant manager at Cushman Fruit Company. Thanks to her enormous effort and influence she contributed for 67 years to the success of his company and family. Kathleen mentored many young women who worked under her and maintained life long correspondence with them. Kathleen became a loving member of the extended Cushman family and attended all family reunions and events.

Kathleen was a 20 year member of the Catholic Daughters of the Americas, as well as a devout and very long-time parishioner and volunteer at St. Juliana Catholic Church in West Palm Beach. Besides many years of service as a hospital volunteer, she was a devoted daughter who lived with and cared for her mother, Gertrude Lawler, until she passed. Her strong faith was evidenced by the graciousness in which she treated everyone.

Kathleen an avid traveler (beginning some 40+ years ago) with her closest friend, Anne S. Cushman, covered most of the globe. Faithful to friends and family, she stayed in close contact via phone, letters, and regularly hosted guests in her home. As a master slide show producer, from her decades of travel, she passionately enjoyed sharing these moments with others.

Kathleen’s wonderful team of caregivers includes Daisy, Debbie, Sharon, Beth, Tootsie, Leitha, Peaches, Tosha, Anna Lee and Holly from the hospice care team, and Colleen and staff at Visiting Angels - these were all Kathleen’s biggest cheer leaders and the most loving and loyal daily guardians of Kathleen’s health, comfort, and happiness in her last years. They enthusiastically enjoyed Kathleen’s company and reaped all the benefits of Kathleen’s many years of wisdom. Kathleen woke up every morning laughing and curious about each day, never losing her interest in nature, music, and good food.

Kathleen, being the gentle giant that she was, seemed to embody a little quote she had on display at her cozy Crosswinds condo which read: True Courage Is Getting Up One More Day And Doing It All over Again.

A celebration of Kathleen Crawford’s life will be held at 11:00 AM, Friday, October 5, 2018 at St. Juliana Catholic Church. A lunch reception will follow at Quattlebaum Funeral, Cremation and Event Center, 6411 Parker Avenue, West Palm Beach, FL 33405 from 12:00 - 2:00 PM. She will be laid to rest at Our Lady Queen of Peace Cemetery, at 10941 Southern Boulevard, Royal Palm Beach at a later date.

Flowers are lovely, but if you prefer to make a memorial contribution, donations may be made to St. Juliana Catholic Church, 4500 South Dixie Highway, West Palm Beach, Florida 33405 or to any charity of your choice, as Kathleen gave generously to many.