Kay Greene

Kay Frances Greene, 81, of Hanover, Virginia died on May 28, 2024. She died unexpectedly while visiting Iowa.

Kay was born on March 11, 1943, to John Frank and Florence Louise (Watson) Seuferer in Mason City, Iowa. Proudly, she was the first member of her extended family born in a hospital. Her father was killed in Normandy, France, on July 11, 1944.

She was exceptionally close to her maternal grandparents Carl Francis and Rose (Markl) Watson, spending her early years on their Britt farm, while her mother lived and worked in St. Benedict. Kay, her young-aunt Shirley, and her Schleuger and Ebeling cousins ran in a pack, enjoying country life.

Florence remarried to Arnold E. Stuflick, who adopted Kay at age 5. The new family moved to Kanawha, where “Heidi” became Kay’s favorite book because she missed her grandfather.

Soon enough the peace was disrupted with the rapid-fire births of her five siblings. Their home became the neighborhood epicenter; as Florence would say, “there was never a dull moment.” In the 1950s, they purportedly had the first television in town. Every day after school, Kay would make two pans of blonde brownies. One to silence the “brats outside,” the other to enjoy while watching her beloved “American Bandstand.” Elvis Presley music and “dessert first” were always her passions.

Kay graduated from Kanawha High School in 1961. She earned a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology and Psychology from the College of St. Theresa in Winona, MN, becoming the first family member to earn a college degree. She moved to Denver, CO, to work at the currently named National Jewish Hospital in its pediatric residential program. Kay counseled children dying of respiratory illnesses. Living in her beloved mountain party home with three friends, she met University of Denver student John Francis Greene, from Niagara Falls, NY. They predominantly lived on the East coast, and three children were born before they divorced.

In 1980, she returned with children Heidi, Heather and Sean to the family farm, in rural LuVerne. She was employed by Kossuth County as a home health aide. The department later merged with Community Health at the Kossuth Regional Health Center. In the early years, she primarily helped families, then enjoyed “taking care of her old folks.” Kay retired in 2008, and moved to the Richmond, Virginia area to be closer to her daughters in 2009.

Never one to seek the limelight, Kay was reserved. However, she was always a keen observer with intelligent insight, if asked. She enjoyed watching “the stories,” aka soap operas, birds, puzzles, and always carried crosswords. Kay was a masterful cook, with a “farm-to-table” philosophy long before it was in vogue. The Iowa Hawkeyes were her favorite in any competition, although 100 percent responsible for uncharacteristic outbursts at the television. She also held dear the Bishop Garrigan Golden Bears. Kay was a prolific greeting card mailer; no occasion or holiday was too minor. Fat squirrels who devoured her bird seed were her only enemies.

Kay was a faithful Roman Catholic, willing to share everything she had with anyone. She was always an active volunteer from whipping eggs at a parish breakfast, membership in the Catholic Daughters of America, to singing in the choir.

While living in Southeastern Pennsylvania, Kay embraced its rich Catholic culture; it is considered the birthplace of Eucharistic devotion. She was also dedicated to the Blessed Virgin, and praying the rosary.

In 1976, the Archdiocese of Philadelphia hosted the 41st International Eucharistic Congress, which included the founding of “Operation Rice Bowl,” and the world-premiere of the hymn “Gift of Finest Wheat.” Kay was in the ensemble that sang it for Mother Theresa, activist Dorothy Day, President Gerald Ford, 417 bishops and 44 cardinals, including Karol Wojtyla. They performed it again when Wojtyla returned three years later as Pope John Paul II at Logan Circle in the City of Brotherly Love.

As a mom, Kay was kind and compassionate with an overabundance of patience. “I only ever wanted to be a mother,” she said. And, she was such a good one. She reveled in being a grandmother. She always kept the grands dressed sharply, provided transportation, and stuffed them with drinks, snacks, KFC and Asian meals.

Kay thought that was her favorite role, and felt blessed to have godchildren, nieces, nephews, too. However, she then became a “GiGi’” or great-grandmother, and THAT was her most cherished title.

Kay was preceded in death by her parents, sister Mary Rose Coll, stillborn brother Edward A. Stuflick, aunt Shirley Ann Watson, stillborn granddaughter Ava Frances Greene, nephews Gabriel Ross Clark & Cody J. Stuflick.

She is survived by her children: Heidi (John Warren) Greene Warren, Riverside, CA, Heather (Malcolm) Lyle, Hanover, VA, and Sean (Brandy) Greene, North Liberty. Grandchildren: Hillary Kay (Paul) Myers, & Jack, Williamsburg, VA, Hope Elizabeth Warren, Williamsburg, VA, Zoë Frances Warren, Riverside, CA, Zachary David Warren, Algona, Emmett P. Lyle, Hanover, VA, Asher R. & Amelia Kay Greene, North Liberty. Although the term “step” was never used, grandchildren: Julia (Aaron) Hammond, Gate City, VA, Matthew (Joy) Lyle, Elizabeth (Chris) Irick, both Johnson City, TN. And, 13 more great-grandchildren: Isabell, Mylee, Rylee, Destiny, Gage, Archer, Cyrus, Josie, Leilani, Jasmyne, Savannah, Nehemiah, and Sarah. Siblings: David (Vicki) Stuflick, Britt, Lois (Howard) Johnson of Altoona, Garry (Sandra) Stuflick, Algona, and Randall (Beth) Stuflick, China Springs, TX, former husband John (Marilyn) Greene, Brett Dobbe, both Huxley, and many nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.

Funeral services will be held Thursday, June 6th, 2024 at Divine Mercy Catholic Parish~Saint Cecelia Catholic Church, in Algona, Iowa at 11 a.m. It will be live streamed on the parish’s YouTube page. https://youtube.com/live/hlVU-5wXQaE?feature=share Rosary will begin at 9:30 a.m., with visitation from 9:50–10:50 a.m. prior to Mass. A luncheon will be served prior to inurnment at Saint Benedict Catholic Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made in Kay’s name to Bishop Garrigan Schools.

Online condolences may be expressed at www.hamiltonsfuneralhome.com

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