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Kathleen Porter
January 14, 1947 — August 16, 2025
Kathleen Jo Porter, age 78, of Elgin, Illinois, died August 16, 2025, at Sherman Hospital after a brief and rapid worsening of chronic health conditions. She was brilliant, hilarious, and beautiful, always with the perfect lipstick and the perfect witty remark.
Kathleen, known to many as Kathy, was born in Elgin in 1947 to Grace (Krumfuss) Porter and Russell Porter. After Russell passed, Grace married Cliff Deverell, giving Kathy lifelong stepsiblings Colleen Deverell, Jerry Deverell, Joan Panzloff, and Bev Jordi.
In 1968, Kathleen married James Moulton Raue Junior, and together they raised three strong and deeply loved children, Matthew (Sheree) Raue, Benjamin Raue, and Samantha Raue Hebert (partner Mark Rayos). A long-time employee of the Bartlett Public Library District, Kathleen also received her associates’ degree from Elgin Community College while raising her children and working. Her greatest loves, in addition to her children and grandkids, were reading books, playing bridge and Mah Jongg, and nature, especially birdwatching.
Kathleen recently described her vision of Heaven: sitting around the table at her beloved cabin in the woods, drinking coffee with all her loved ones. Waiting at the coffee table are her many dear departed friends and relatives: her best friend and cousin Mary Ann; beloved aunties Gloria, “Gee,” Ann, and Naomi; dear friend and library coworker Peg; her parents; her former husband Jim; and her dear pets Maggie, Lucille, Kramer, and Other Kitty.
She is survived by her wonderful grandchildren, Grace, Jimmy, and Claire, who were the light of her life. She is also survived by her three beloved children and their partners; her sons’ best friends Chad and Matt, whom she loved as her own; many nieces and nephews; granddogs Sadie and Janet; former Bartlett Library coworkers; best friends Darlene and Connie; many friends from her neighborhood; and her beloved Pomeranian, Rosie.
A celebration of life will be held on Saturday, August 23, at St. Paul’s United Church of Christ, 40W720 Plank Road, Elgin. The celebration begins at 10 AM with a drop-in visitation hour, followed by an 11 AM service. Instead of flowers, the family appreciates donations to Anderson Human animal welfare.
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