Katherine “Kay” Geisler

It is with heavy hearts we share that our dear mother and Nana, Katherine “Kay” Geisler neé O’Shaughnessy  made her final journey home  on December 23rd , just 5 days before her 82nd birthday.  She is now at peace in the loving arms of our Savior and joins her parents, Mary and Ed O’Shaughnessy, siblings Judy and Ed and dear family friend Fr. Joe Brennan.  

She is survived by her sons David (Suzanne) and Jim (Carol Cisternino),  her beloved grandchildren Rebecca (Chris Cruz) and Daniel, sister-in-law Cheryl O’Shaughnessy, many beloved relatives (O’Shaughnessy and Geisler families)  and friends.

Kay  grew up in the 10th ward neighborhood as part of a large Irish community and was proud of her Irish heritage. She attended Sacred Heart, Nazareth H.S. and McCarthy’s Business School.  She loved to travel and took amazing photos to document her trips. She always said she looked at everything as if through the lens of a camera.  She travelled to Ireland twice and met many of her extended family members at their ancestral home in County Mayo and frequently visited her father’s family in Napanee, Canada.   She had a penchant for documenting everything. She was a prolific list-maker and always wrote the date and people’s names on photos or anything she ever received, for which we are now very grateful.

Kay’s mother emigrated from Ireland to the US and her father’s family emigrated to Canada and he eventually moved to Rochester.  She would always recall letters and phone calls from overseas relatives and the occasional visit from her Aunt Katie, a missionary nun who lived in South Africa who always had fascinating stories to tell.  Her younger sister Judy, passed away at age 19 from kidney disease before dialysis was as accessible as it is today.  She is also predeceased by her  brother Ed; who passed away on May 13, 2024.  Kay’s heavenly journey began on December 23rd, which would have been Ed’s 80th birthday.

She was a voracious reader and a woman of great faith; she participated in several church ministries which brought her much joy.  She was a member of the church choir for many years. While at Unity Living Center she participated in Mass as a lector whenever possible.   In later years she experienced many medical setbacks but she steadfastly continued to do the things she enjoyed.  She loved to entertain and celebrate holidays; always dressing up with  fun accessories like New Year’s glasses,  pumpkin hats and of course Irish regalia for St. Patrick’s Day.  She would always remind us on the 25th that Christmas is only so many months away.

She passed her Irish spirit for fun on to her children and grandchildren.  She had a great sense of humor and loved nothing more than a good volley session of puns and people’s  reactions to them.  She was the fun Nana who always planned outings and experiences for her grandchildren thereby creating lasting memories they will always cherish.  The grands were her shopping buddies who helped her explore local bakeries, gift shops and sites of interest. When she became more housebound she became an expert at catalog shopping and spent hours making lists of items to purchase.  She found great joy in finding the right gift for someone.

Kathleen, as her Irish family often called her, loved to work and held several jobs through the years beginning with Ridgeway Pharmacy during  high school (her first and most favorite job).  She worked at Kodak before she married John and then stayed home to raise her family.  She returned to the workforce later on and worked at St. Charles rectory, Medicap and Saatchi & Saatchi Advertising Agency until she was no longer able due to chronic health issues. She was able to remain in her home for the next twenty years.  She was seriously ill with pneumonia in 2018 and became a resident of the Unity Living Center (formerly St. Mary’s Hospital) in 2019.  The family is grateful to all the staff for the care she received while there, especially the dialysis treatment staff.   

Kay was a kind, thoughtful soul who selflessly  always put others first, had the patience of Job and was never too busy to lend an ear or a helping hand. She was a kind and loving mother, mother-in-law, nana, aunt, cousin and friend.  She was loved by everyone who knew her and always made a lasting impression.  We are all better people for having known her and the life lessons she exemplified will continue to shine in the legacy of love and friendship she created. She was love personified and will be dearly missed.

Friends may call Thursday (Jan 2^nd) 4-7 PM at Vay-Schleich and Meeson, 1075 Long Pond Road.  Her Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Friday (Jan 3^rd) 10:00 AM at St. Charles Borromeo Church, 3003 Dewey Avenue, Rochester, NY.  Interment, Holy Sepulchre Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that you consider a donation to either the National Kidney Foundation or St. Charles Borromeo Church in her memory.