Obituary of Kathy McHale Lauri Kuehn

The obituary for our dearest mother, wife, sister, aunt, and friend. Kathy McHale Lauri Kuehn passed away on September 17, 2023 at the age of 69 years young, after developing complications with COPD due to COVID. She passed peacefully with her family holding vigil till her last breath. Kathy was born in Queens, NY on October 25, 1953 to her parents Nancy and Frank McHale, joining the family as the second born to this ever-growing family unit. They soon moved to Floral Park, to a street called Roscoe Place. This is where Kathy and her older brother Frank Jr. welcomed the rest of the McHale siblings - Jeffrey Gentile, Tim McHale, Roseann (McHale) Wessel and Jackie McHale. McHale Family Complete! Growing up in the bustling town of Floral Park just steps away from the VFP Recreation Center and Floral Park Pool, it was the perfect location for this active family of Irish and Italian and fun-loving parents. Kathy's adolescent and teen years were spent on Cherry St. & Plainfield Avenue where she met and honed friendships that would ultimately become life-long to this day. She graduated from Floral Park Memorial High School in 1971 with secretarial skills that were beyond stellar. She was gifted in the English language and was known as "The Grammarian" throughout her high school years. These qualities afforded her the opportunity to land a private secretarial job in NYC straight out of high school. She worked for Lever Brothers and then Alcoa Aluminum where she advanced to training in the skill of export. Eventually, she moved her employment to Long Island in Great Neck working as an Export Manager for Bamberger Polymers. It was here she started learning the ins and outs of her career-driven passion. During those years working in Great Neck, she met her first husband Robert (Bob) Lauri, they married several years later and in 1982 were blessed with a baby girl, Kristen Michelle Lauri. They were together for many years but eventually parted ways. Around this time in her life, Kathy was a single, working mother at a time when most were stay at home moms. Having to juggle Kristen’s day as well as her own work day could be quite challenging, but she did it with a smile, always assured in knowing that the weekend was coming. Those days were paramount for Kathy and Kristen. Kathy joined the Floral Park, NY based Citrus and Allied Essences in 1986. She worked there for over 30 years and during that time, became an expert in her craft. She was the Import, Export and Hazardous Shipping Guru. It was in 1993 at Citrus where she met the love of her life, Richard Kuehn. In 1998, after years of friendship, they fell in love. Completely committed to each other, they embarked on their life- long journey together. She treasured her time with Rich and Kristen. She loved spending time with her parents - a.k.a. Nana and Gramps - because it was just plain fun being there. There were movies to see, street fairs to attend and treats and laughter to indulge in. Family parties and BBQ’s were always being planned and put on the calendar. Since Kristen was an only child, Kathy made it a priority that she be with her cousins as much as she could. Holidays were always the best time to bring the whole family together. We would have a Secret Santa gift swap for Christmas - but the rules of only buying for one person did not apply to Kathy. She would spoil every single one of her nieces and nephews - and eventually their kids, too. The memories made on Plainfield Avenue, Bryant Avenue, Locust Street, and Peachtree Drive, among many others, are ones that will be in all of our hearts forever. In 2012, Kathy and Rich relocated to Citrus and Allied Essence in Maryland. A few years later Kathy retired from her full-time role in 2016 and became a consultant. Once Kathy and Rich moved to Maryland, Kathy and Kristen had to alter the way they spent time together. So phone calls would last for hours at a time - sharing with each other the happenings of their day. She would send long, eloquently written text messages that read more like love letters when she was just finding out something as simple as making weekend plans. Laughing, crying, you name it…they did it all through techy communications. But how special it was when Rich and Kathy would come up to NY and stay for a weekend or Kristen would go and spend a school break with them. Those were times to remember. Kathy was a friend to all. From caring for her neighbors and their families to her coworkers to a friendly face in her local town. She was the first one to get excited about any event in her friend’s lives from birthdays to weddings. At work, the candy bowl on her desk was never empty and she kept the bakeries within a 10 mile radius of her office in business. She just always wanted to be able to put a smile on someone’s face. Kathy was a giver who’s warm smile, kind heart, and loving spirit touched the lives of so many. You can’t put into words just how kind and caring she was to all who knew her. She absolutely adored her family… her husband and daughter, brothers and sisters, nieces, nephews, cousins, grand nieces, grand nephews and those friends who were lucky to have her in their lives. She is now in God’s Paradise, where she has joined the many loving family and friends that predeceased her. Kathy’s wings were ready and she will be our family’s special Guardian Angel. She leaves behind her adoring family, her loving daughter Kristen Michelle Lauri, her incredibly devoted husband, Richard Kuehn, and her puppy Arnie. Our dear Kathy will live on in our hearts forever and eternally until we meet again.