Kathleen Tempesta's Obituary
Kathleen Tempesta, age 70, died Saturday, May 22, 2021 after a decade-long battle with Multiple Myeloma and Leukemia. She was preceded in death by her husband, Arthur J. Tempesta, as well as her parents, Irene and Joseph McAndrews, and siblings, Irene Kearney, Joseph McAndrews, Jr., Regina Gallagher, Rosemarie McAndrews.
Kathleen is survived by her daughter Theresa Tempesta of Spotsylvania, VA and her son, Arthur J. Tempesta II of Bayshore, NY. She is also survived by siblings Thomas McAndrews, Bernadette McDonnell, Marilyn McAndrews, Geraldine Buscemi, Kevin McAndrews, and Eugene McAndrews (Justine) as well as numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins.
Kathleen was born in New York City and grew up in Long Island City in Queens, NY. She raised her children in Long Island, NY and Somerset, VA. After raising her children, she went back into the workforce, working her way up from a cashier to a front-end manager at Walmart, first in Charlottesville, VA then at the Southpoint Walmart in Fredericksburg, VA. Her leadership, caring, and New York attitude led to devoted friendships with her colleagues that continued after her retirement and up until her passing.
Kathleen loved travel and adventure. She trotted around the globe with friends and family in between cancer treatments. She went ziplining in Vegas with her brother and sister in law, Eugene and Justine, explored the Grand Canyon with her children and sister Marilyn, took in the vistas of Alaska with her sister Bunny (Bernadette) and brother in law Mike. She swam with Dolphins and took in shows with her buddy Caroline (Mutt or Jeff?). She experienced Europe and Australia with her daughter and close friends. Her adventurous spirit led her on a 33 day road trip around the US with her daughter Theresa and her surrogate daughters Penny Anderson, Robin Esak, Patti Niles, and Cathy Fisher shortly before her last bout with cancer.
Kathleen loved spending time with her friends and large extended family. Family reunions in Manasquan, spending time talking to her sister Gerri about Gerri’s grandchildren, listening to her brother Tommy’s stories, and reminiscing about times and people gone by as they watched nieces and nephews (now grand nieces and nephews) play was one of her favorite things to do.
Kathleen loved to help people whether it was sitting with someone as they went through hardship, driving folks around on errands, or being a spare grandmother to the children of colleagues or neighbors. She fought hard and stayed positive throughout her struggle with cancer and was an inspiration to many. Her wish is to be remembered as a “holly jolly person who cared for others.”
A Memorial Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:00 a.m. Saturday, June 12, 2021 at St. Matthew Catholic Church, 8200 Robert E. Lee Drive, Spotsylvania. A reception will follow at Mattaponi Winery, 7530 Morris Road, Spotsylvania, VA 22551.
In lieu of flowers please consider donations to St Matthews Pantry at http://www.stmatthewspotsylvania.org/foodpantry.html or to Baby Closet in mom's name, Kathleen Tempesta at http://www.stmatthewspotsylvania.org/page11.html.
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