Kathleen M Griffin-Fant's Obituary
KATHLEEN GRIFFIN FANT, of Orange Village, passed away November 11, 2014 at age 79. For the past 48 years of her life, Kathleen Marie Griffin Fant lived in a Victorian century home on Lander Road in Orange Village, Ohio. Kathleen was an incredible mother who had broad intellectual interests, along with many lifelong friends, her children were her treasure. She loved to travel the world, exploring five continents, but also loved her home. She wrote and published the History of Orange Village in 1983. Well educated, Kathleen graduated Notre Dame College in 1957, received her Master’s in Social Work from Case Western Reserve University in 1994, and continued to educate herself in the years beyond, receiving certificates in Landscape, Horticulture and Anthropology. Aside from raising her four children, Kathleen loved reading and started her own book club 30 years ago. She also attended Garden Club and was a member of many local cultural organizations. Among her accomplishments, Kathleen was the President of the Chagrin Valley Camera Club, she was the Resource Center Manager at Mandel School of Applied Sciences at Case Western Reserve University, and she was Executive Director of Transitional Housing for Women, where she retired in 2000. Kathleen grew up on the Griffin family farm in Westlake, Ohio, daughter of Raymond and Gladys Griffin. She graduated Westlake High School in 1953. After college, she married Raymond Fant in 1962, moved to Chicago for several years, and then back to Cleveland. In 1967, Kathleen moved to her present home in Orange Village to raise her family. Passing on her strength and passion for life, Kathleen leaves behind her brother Raymond Michael Griffin and his wife Donna, sister Mrs. Mary Louise Griffin Harrison and her husband Jim, daughter Deborah Fant, son Daniel Fant and his wife Angela, son Michael Fant and his wife Cynthia, son Joshua Fant and his wife Melissa, and six beautiful grandchildren, Victoria, Adriana, Bianca, Alexander, Devon and Bryn. Friends may call at GATTOZZI AND SON FUNERAL HOME, 12524 CHILLICOTHE RD. (RT. 306, N. OF MAYFIELD RD.) CHESTERLAND ON SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 2014, 2-5 PM, where a ceremony to celebrate Kathleen’s life will follow at 5:00 pm. Private burial at Sunset Memorial Park in North Olmsted. In lieu of flowers, donations can be sent to Transitional Housing, Inc. (Cleveland) in Kathleen’s name.
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