Kathleen Schaecher

KEIZER - Kathleen was born in Newcastle West, Ireland June 24, 1924 to John and Catherine O'Connor. She passed away peacefully, with her family beside her, at The Arbor in Keizer, OR on December 21, 2016.
Kathleen loved her childhood home in Ireland. She would often tell her children about playing in the fields and roads with her brother Sean and sister Eileen. Kathleen, at one time, tying her sister to a gate on their way to school. In 1942, at the age of 18, she traveled to London to study nursing. During World War II she was assigned to St. Georges Hospital in London. She expressed how heartbreaking it was to see so many injured civilians and soldiers. While in London, she met the love of her life, a U.S. soldier Ambrose (Bruce)
Schaecher. They were married in London in February 1945. After the war Bruce was returned to the U.S. and Kathleen returned to Ireland to await paperwork allowing her to travel to the U.S. In March 1946, while still in Ireland, their daughter Pamela was born. Kathleen and Pamela were able to come the United States via ship and train arriving in Mt. Angel, Oregon in March 1947. Their first born son Ted was born in 1947 and Pat in 1951. The family lived in Mt. Angel and on the Oregon coast for a time and then moved to Albany, Oregon where Kathleen worked as a nurse at Albany General Hospital until they moved to Salem in 1974. She was a member of The Catholic Daughters of America at St. Mary's Catholic Church.

Kathleen loved to garden and was an avid reader. She also loved to knit and the family has many of her creations. She was a fantastic cook and her family looked forward to the meals she would prepare especially the desserts. Her date bars were to die for. She would always serve herself last.

She took may trips back to Ireland and England to visit family and friends. On a recent trip to Ireland, by her children, they reminisced with some of Kathleen's long time and dearest friends confirming her many childhood memories.

One of her favorite pastimes was talking for hours with her friends Vicky and Peggy. In her later years she had many friends and neighbors that she loved dearly and enjoyed their visits together.
Kathleen was preceded in death by her husband Ambrose Schaecher, brother Sean O'Connor, sister Eileen Tumber.

Kathleen is survived by her daughter Pam (Jim) Vinson, Canyon City, Or, son Ted (Priscilla) Schaecher, Salem,Or, son Pat (Nancy) Schaecher, Salem, Or. Seven grandchildren, fourteen great grand children, and three great great grandchildren.

The family would like to thank Avamere Court at Keizer and The Arbor Memory Care in Keizer for all of their tender loving care over the years.