Kathy Ann Kirsits

With her siblings holding her hands and praying by her side, Kathy Ann Kirsits, 74, peacefully passed away on July 8, 2026, after a strong and courageous fight. A lifelong resident of South Bend, Kathy was the first-born of the late Al and Agnes (Kurucz) Kirsits. She is survived by her brother, Al “Buddy” (Mary) Kirsits and sister Theresa (Tom) Byszewski, as well as her beloved nieces and nephews: Jon (Chelsie) Kirsits, great nephew Harrison Kirsits, Kyle Kirsits (Indianapolis), Hanna Kirsits (Denver, CO), Tommy Byszewski (Indianapolis), Paul Byszewski (Minot, ND), John Byszewski (South Bend), and Maria Byszewski.

Kathy worked as an administrative assistant at St. Joseph High School, where she loved interacting with students, teachers, and families. In recent years Kathy worked for The Center for Hospice Care, where her compassion and welcoming spirit acted as a balm to families as they navigated the difficult world of end-of-life care.

1 Corinthians 13:13 “And now these three remain: faith, hope, and love. But the greatest of these is love.”

Kathy embodied these virtues throughout her life. A devout Catholic, Kathy was a member of St. Joseph Parish where she could be found at Saturday mass, spending an equal amount of time praying and waving to babies in the pews around her. Kathy maintained a deep hope in God’s plan for her until the very end, trusting in His will and timing. Above all else, Kathy lived her life for the love of others. Kathy took great pride in her nieces, nephews, and great nephew, proudly sharing and celebrating their accomplishments. As her nieces and nephews aged, Kathy was thrilled to welcome their spouses and significant others into the family with open arms. She never failed to include everyone in her thoughtful Christmas gifts (hand selected months in advance) and timely birthday cards. Kathy enjoyed the simple things in life–her family, friends, her Walnut Grove neighbors, soaking up the sun, the radio perpetually tuned into her favorite station, Saturday mornings at the farmer’s market, a trip to the casino, a manicure to coordinate with the season, and especially a good book. A voracious reader, Kathy’s final act of caring will be to donate her eyes to VisionFirst, so that she may enjoy her beloved books through the eyes of another for years to come.

Visitation will be held from 4:00-8:00pm on Friday, July 17, 2026 at Kaniewski Funeral Home, 3545 N. Bendix Dr. South Bend, IN, with a rosary at 7:30pm. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Saturday, July 18, 2026, at 12:30pm, at St. Joseph Catholic Church, 226 N. Hill St., South Bend, IN. Private interment will be held at a later date at Cedar Grove Cemetery.

The family would like to express their deep gratitude for the care Kathy received from the South Bend Fire Department and St. Joseph Regional Medical Center ICU. A special thanks to Dr. Quate and Dr. Schmitz of Kidney Care of Michiana, and Dr. Khan at MHO for their professionalism, compassion, thoughtfulness, and care. In lieu of flowers, Kathy’s legacy may be honored through donations made to The Center for Hospice Care Mishawaka, by doing a random act of kindness for someone, or considering passing on the gift of life by becoming an organ donor.

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