Kathryn “Kathy” Wightkin, 66 passed away Tuesday, February 28 on Mardi Gras Day in her beloved city, New Orleans. She had a brief and courageous battle with cancer and was surrounded by family. She was born and raised in Chalmette, Louisiana and has spent her adult days as a fixture in her neighborhood, the historic French Quarter.
She went to Andrew Jackson High School, attended LSU and graduated from University of New Orleans. She worked for the state Office of Family Services and spent most of her career with the state Office of Mental Health at Charity Hospital in the psychiatric ward. She braved Hurricane Katrina with her patients at Charity and traveled to safety with them to Central Louisiana State Hospital. She was a volunteer with NO/AIDS Task Force from its inception until 2001. She traveled the world and lived life on her own terms. She built a family of friends at the Bourbon Pub, the Pet Asylum and with anyone else who had the pleasure of getting to know her.
Kathy was preceded in death by her parents William and Joyce Wightkin and her older brother George “Buddy” Wightkin and her niece Shelly Wightkin. She was the oldest daughter and is survived by her brothers Donald Wightkin (Sally) and William Wightkin (Lauren) and sisters Margaret Sims (Steve), Joyce Sullivan (Don), and Stephanie Sexton (Bill). She has many nieces, nephews, great nieces and great nephews and as said by them “everyone should have a redheaded aunt.” She is the proud mother of two rescue dogs Max and Jax who gave her as much love as she shared with all of us.
Relatives and friends are invited to attend a memorial gathering to be held at St. Bernard Memorial Funeral Home, 701 W. Virtue St., Chalmette, LA on Saturday, March 18th from 12:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m., followed by a celebration of her life beginning at 2:00 p.m. Her burial will be private.
In the spirit of Kathy say hello to strangers, become friends with your neighbors, and embrace the happy in life.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in memory of Kathy to the French Quarter Pet Asylum, c/o Brenda Laura, 513 Dumaine St, New Orleans, LA 70116.
To view and sign the Family Guestbook, please visit www.stbernardmemorial.com.
