Kathleen H. Tovatt, RN died at her home at Green Acres Retirement Community in Greenville, MI on Tuesday, December 20, 2005.
“Sis” was born Kathleen Helen Sullivan on March 26, 1913 in Joliet, Illinois. She was raised in Detroit with 5 siblings on Garland Ave graduating from Southeastern High School and the Providence Hospital School of Nursing on West Grand Blvd in 1935. She met her husband Willard at Providence. He died in 1960. She worked at Bon Secours Hospital for 25 years in med-surg, ER, and OR, sometimes working double shifts to raise two children by herself. She nursed thousands of patients over 60 years of hospital, nursing home, and volunteer work. Later she greatly missed her only daughter, Marilyn Tovatt Beaudoin, who died in 1988. After 86 years in Detroit she moved to Green Acres. She deeply loved the staff and residents there, especially the original “welcoming committee” and former Yahtzee partners Hazel and Bonnie.
She is survived by her sister Betty Jean Savage (George) of Aledo, Texas and their five children and families. Her son Dr. Gerald Tovatt (Mary Ellen) of Greenville, and granddaughters Anne Tovatt of Los Angeles, CA and Dr. Katherine Tovatt Wood (Dr. Michael Wood) of Chicago, IL. Her son-in-law Lyle Beaudoin (Theresa) of Spokane, WA and grandsons Christopher Beaudoin (Pam) and Colin Beaudoin of Seattle, WA. Her special nieces Carol Salisbury (Jim) and their children Jeff, Jamie, Jill and Jody of Warren, MI and Sheri DeCew (Ralph) and their children David and Robin of Sterling Hts., MI and many other nieces and nephews.
Kathleen requested no funeral service and a private family memorial will be held at a later date. Contributions in her memory for nursing scholarships may be made to the Education Foundation of Greenville and the Montcalm Community College Foundation. Messages of condolence may be sent via hurstfuneralhome.com
