Katherine Kowalski, a long-time teacher in the Florence City School system, passed away at her home Sunday, July 15, 2012. She was 59.
The family will receive friends at Elkins Funeral Home on Thursday beginning at 1:00 p.m. The funeral service will follow at 3:00 p.m. in the funeral home chapel. The Rev. Mike Pope will officiate. Burial will follow in Greenview Memorial Park.
Kathy was a graduate of Coffee High School where she was a member of the National Honor Society. She earned Bachelors and Masters degrees from Florence State University (now UNA) and began her teaching career at Lexington School. She became a Special Education teacher and taught at Harlan Elementary, Powell Elementary and Bradshaw High School. Her love for teaching and her interest in the students she taught endeared her to them and she was remembered long after they were her students.
She enjoyed reading, needlepoint and gemology and had a love for the arts.
Kathy is survived by her husband Larry Kowalski; a daughter Katie Newbury and husband Mark of Florence, and her mother Cornelia Smith Nix of Florence.
Pallbearers will be Robert F. Smith, William Smith, Allen Smith, Michael Hasty, Terry Mitchell, and Dennis Jenkins. Honorary bearers will be Ron Smith, Dick Calvert, Jim Downing, Leon Grigsby and Richard Howell.
The family suggests memorials to A.S.P.C.A., 424 E. 92nd Street, New York, NY 10128, The Wounded Warrior Project, 1120 G St. NW, Suite 700, Washington, D.C. 20005 or the American Diabetes Association, 1701 No. Beauregard St., Alexandria, VA 22311.