Katherine Patricia Riihimaki, 84, of Golfview Hills passed away May 13, 2024.
Kathy was born in 1940 and spent her childhood in Riverside, where her parents owned an FTD florist shop at the corner of Herbert and Herrick. Kathy met her future husband, Richard Riihimaki, at a summer camp in Lake Villa. They were married in November 1962 and later had a daughter.
Kathy has lived in unincorporated Hinsdale (Golfview Hills) since 1963, where she was known as a caring/giving person who enjoyed crocheting and visiting nursing homes, spreading good cheer with her lap blankets and wheelchair bags she made by hand. Kathy loved her family and always had the sweetest smile, despite all the physical challenges she faced.
Kathy was preceded in death by her brother, Bill Schmidt; her sister, Joanne Berger; and her nephews, Mike and Gary Berger.
Kathy is survived by her daughter, Mary Katherine (Bruce) Torgler; her grandchildren, Heather (Mike) Hamer and Erik Torgler; her two great-grandsons; Walter and Gideon Hamer; her two brothers, Robert (Vera) Schmidt and Greg Schmidt; and her nieces and nephews, Sue (Eddie) Kozoyed, Janet (Dave) Grabacki, Margie Berger, Keith (Ria) Berger, Carolyn (Chris) Hampton, Stephanie (Jared) Grube and Dean Schmidt.
A celebration of Kathy's life will be held at 3:30 p.m. Saturday, June 15, at All Saints Episcopal Church, 4370 Woodland Ave., Western Springs.
Internment at the Queen of Heaven in the Christ the King Mausoleum will be private.
Memorials may be made to Catnap, 1101 Beach Ave., LaGrange Park, IL 60526 or to a favorite charity.
Sullivan Funeral Home in Hinsdale handled the arrangements.
