Kathleen C. Koepele, a cherished grandmother and warm soul, passed away peacefully on May 7, 2025, in Waitsfield, Vermont, at the age of 83. Born on February 23, 1942, in Ohio to Charles and Julia Crone, Kathy lived a life rich with intellectual pursuit, creative expression, and deep familial love.
Kathy graduated from Saint Mary of the Woods College and earned advanced degrees from the University of Chicago and Michigan State University. A long-practicing psychoanalyst, she brought insight and healing to countless lives, and her surviving family members, thanks to her influence, are notably well-balanced and productive members of society, a testament to her skill and humor. After raising their family in Michigan, Kathy and her husband, David realized a dream by moving to Vermont’s Green Mountains in 2006. The grandfatherly mountains inspired her poetry, which captured the beauty of human connection and the natural world.
Kathy is survived by her husband, David; her brother, Charles Crone, and his wife, Janet; three sons, Eric (Rosemary), Patrick (Allison), and Steve (Jennifer); and 13 grandchildren, Benjamin (Naomi), Cameron, Elijah, Finnian, Grady, Louise, Maryelizabeth, Oren, Phoebe, Samantha, Shannon, Tallulah, and Timmeree, all listed in alphabetical not preferential order. She took immense pride in her grandchildren, striving to create a nurturing environment filled with joy and creativity.
Her poetry, a reflection of her soul, lives on. As she wrote in “REVERIE” (2018):
“From my chair by the fire, I spy your planked redwood picnic table, / purchased by you in the 30s, / on my porch, / waiting for me to create for my grandchildren the kind of safe space you gave me.”
These lines capture Kathy’s deep love for her grandchildren and her commitment to fostering a legacy of care and connection. Her wisdom, kindness, and creativity will endure in the hearts of all who knew her.
A celebration of Kathy’s life will be held this summer. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Mad River Valley Ambulance Service (https://www.mrvas.org/donate) in her memory.
