Kathleen M. Bassell

BASSELL, Kathleen "Kathy" Marie (Kelly), of Springfield, passed away peacefully on February 26, 2019 in Upper Valley Medical Center's Hospice Unit. Kathy was born on November 5, 1956 in Springfield to John and Carol (Oswald) Kelly. She married Michael Bassell on September 11, 2004. Kathy spent many years as a caregiver for the elderly in the Springfield area, always turning a "job" into friendships. She cared deeply for her charges and sought to make their later years a time of joy. Kathy worked for Oakwood Village, Eaglewood Village, the Masonic Home, and Champaign Residential Services. Her smile, positive outlook and cheery disposition always warmed the hearts of her clients. Kathy never met a person she didn't immediately connect with and would leave them feeling like they had known each other for years. Since 2001, her favorite role was that of "Grandma Tatey" to her five grandchildren. She was never afraid to get down and dirty with her loves, whether it be planting marigolds in the back yard, digging for treasure, or a simple game of cards at the coffee table. Her grandchildren adored her kid-at-heart nature, assuring them a lifetime of memories. She also adored her lively canine children, Wrinkles and Wiggles. The dogs were her "kids" and treated like such, consuming far too much room in the bed at night and far too many table scraps. Kathy has always been a bargain hunter, enjoying the thrill of the hunt at neighborhood garage sales, the Animal League Thrift Shop, the Nearly New Shop, her son-in-law and daughter's consignment shop in Grand Rapids, Ohio, and the Annual Wood County Humane Society Garage Sale in Bowling Green, which she traveled to every May to spend a week of volunteering and loading up on bargains under the guise of visiting her daughter, Sarah and her family. Her hunting always centered around others and how a particular item (which she usually got "for just a quarter") could help them - after all, every household should contain a lettuce knife for when the sudden craving for a salad strikes. A roll of quarters for the just-happened upon garage sale was always in her purse, although occasionally, a grandchild would talk a quarter out of that roll for a handful of candy. Kathy attended St. Bernard School in her early years, later graduating in 1974 from Catholic Central High School. She attended the former Pitchin United Methodist Church, under the pastoral care of her good friend, Rev. Paul Price. While attending Pitchin UMC, Kathy enjoyed being a part of the annual Applebutter Festival, working as a server for the Porkchop Dinner, helping with the craft show, taking a turn to churn the applebutter, or preparing it for canning. Kathy loved to be a helping hand to anyone she could, frequently babysitting her grandchildren, pet-sitting for friends, or volunteering where needed. Kathy would never bat an eye at doing all she could to make sure her friends, families, and even the newly-friended acquaintance felt peaceful and at home in her presence. Kathy is survived by her husband, Michael; son, William and daughter-in-law, Sarah (Morris) Herzog, all of Springfield; daughter, Sarah (Herzog) and son-in-law Joseph Schroeder, Weston; grandchildren, Aaron, Julia, & Lacy Schroeder, all of Weston; Peyton & Kailee Herzog, Springfield; father, John Kelly, Springfield, sisters, Christine Callahan, Springboro and Mary (Steve) Cornell, Springfield; brother, Joseph (Heidi) Kelly, Bellefontaine, two nieces, two nephews, a step-daughter Jessica (Lejon) Ratchford, Huber Heights; and step-children Eric (Amy) Bassell, Springfield and Kenneth, Troy. She was preceded in death by her mother, Carol (Oswald) Kelly on June 5, 2016 and son, Mark William Herzog, on January 3, 1980. A Celebration of Life Service will be held on Friday, March 1st from 4-7 at Conroy Funeral Home, Springfield. Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Saturday, March 2nd at 11am at St. Bernard Catholic Church. Final interment will be at St. Bernard's Cemetery, Springfield, beside her first-born son, Mark William. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in Kathy's honor may be made to the Dayton Children's Hospital or the charity of the donor's choice. The family wishes to thank the Upper Valley Hospice staff for their compassionate care in her final days.