Obituary of Kathleen Karl

Kathleen Karl "Area Educator" Allegany, NY Kathleen Karl, formerly of E. Union Street in Allegany, died peacefully on Friday (February 26, 2016) at Absolut of Allegany. Kathleen was born September 15, 1915, and was the daughter of Frank and Kathryn Warters Hirt . In 1939 at St. Bonaventure Church in Allegany, she married Raymond Karl, who passed away March 14, 1999. Mrs. Karl graduated from Allegany High School in 1933 and from Fredonia Normal School in 1936, where she received a degree in elementary education. She taught for 10 years in the Allegany rural schools and later, when the districts were centralized, she continued her career as a teacher at Allegany Central School. She also taught at Hinsdale Central School for 18 years, retiring from this district in 1975. She was a member of St. Bonaventure Church, the Altar & Rosary Society, the Allegany Area Historical Association, and the NY State Retired Teachers Association. For several years she delivered Meals on Wheels in Allegany. On January 21, 2016, Senator Cathy Young presented a State of NY Legislative Resolution in the Senate, congratulating Kathleen upon the occasion of celebrating her 100th birthday. She is survived by a son, Duane (Cindy) Karl, and four daughters, Marjorie (Harold) Geise, Donna (Robert) Wenzel, Eileen (Donald) Bigler, and Nancy Crawford, all of Allegany. She is also survived by 14 grandchildren, 33 great grandchildren, and several nieces and nephews. In addition to her parents, she was predeceased by two brothers, Kenneth and Francis Hirt, and a son-in-law, Dennis Crawford. Friends will be received on Tuesday from 5-8pm at the Casey, Halwig and Hartle Funeral Home 3128 W. State Rd. Olean. Funeral services will be held Wednesday (March 2, 2016) beginning with a prayer service at 9:00am in the funeral home. A Mass of Christian Burial will follow at 9:30am at St. Bonaventure Church. Rev. James Vacco, OFM, pastor, will the the celebrant. Burial will be in St. Bonaventure Cemetery. Memorials may be made to the Allegany Area Historical Association, Box 162 Allegany, NY 14706, the Allegany-Limestone MS/HS Academic Booster Club, 3131 Five Mile Rd. Allegany, NY 14706 or the Allegany Engine Co., 188 W. Main St. Allegany, NY 14706. Online condolences may be expressed at oleanfuneralhome.com.