Katherine (Kathy) Elizabeth Griffin
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January 22, 2025 - February 22, 2025 |
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Celebrating the life of First Assembly of God Wednesday, March 5, 2025 With hearts both heavy with sorrow and full of hope in Christ, we announce the passing of Katherine (Kathy) Elizabeth Griffin, who entered into the arms of her Savior at 3:14 AM on February 22, 2025, after valiantly battling a rare cancer for 15 years. Born on January 22, 1968, in Park Ridge, Illinois, to Clifford and Helen Mensing, Kathy lived a life marked by faith, perseverance, and love. A devoted believer in Jesus Christ, Kathy found great joy in reading her Bible and crocheting, often sharing her creations as tokens of love. Her faith was not just something she held in her heart—it was something she lived. She had the privilege of traveling to Africa on a mission trip to share the Gospel and was actively involved in Celebrate Recovery, even traveling to California to deepen her walk with the Lord. On April 19, 2008, Kathy married the love of her life, Jeffrey (Jeff) Scott Griffin. Their love was rooted in faith, having met at First Assembly of God. Together, they built a life filled with laughter, adventure, and unwavering devotion to each other. In September 2022, they welcomed a sweet new addition to their family, a toy poodle named Chipper, who brought them endless joy. Kathy graduated from Barat College in 1991 with a degree in marketing and dedicated nearly 30 years of her career to Enterprise Corporation. Despite the demands of work and health struggles, she and Jeff found joy in life’s simple pleasures—cheering on local hockey teams, visiting the Bristol Renaissance Fair in Wisconsin, and spending time with loved ones. She leaves behind her devoted husband, Jeffrey Griffin; mother, Helen Mensing; brother, Scott (Kathy) Mensing, and their daughter Emily; her cherished in-laws, Ken and Vicki Griffin; brother-in-law, Chris (Tobi) Griffin; sister-in-law, Jennifer (Kent) Burns; nephew, Griffin (Cassie) Burns, and their sons, Asher and Harrison; niece, Mikayla (Matt) Cotton, and their sons, Oliver and Elliot; as well as many other family members and dear friends who deeply loved her. Kathy’s life was a testament to unwavering faith, selfless love, and enduring strength. One of her favorite scriptures was 1 Corinthians 9:24-27, which reads: “Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. Therefore I do not run like someone running aimlessly; I do not fight like a boxer beating the air. No, I strike a blow to my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.” Kathy fought the good fight, ran her race with endurance, and now receives her eternal crown in the presence of her Lord and Savior. Though we will miss her dearly, we rejoice in the promise that we will one day see her again in glory. Until then, we will hold you in our hearts forever. A Heartfelt Thank You To Dr. Moreira, Dr. Choi, Dr. Donnelly, and their team at Northwestern Hospital, and to Dr. Jeong and his staff at Illinois Cancer Care—thank you for your dedication, compassion, and tireless efforts in Kathy’s care. Your kindness and expertise gave us precious time and hope. A special thank you to Kaylee Wise from OSF Hospice Care, who was truly the best hospice nurse. Kaylee cared not only for Kathy but for her entire family with such compassion, dedication, and grace. Her kindness and support brought great comfort in Kathy’s final days, and for that, we are forever grateful. Another heartfelt thank you to Deb Westfall in Chicago, Kathy’s dear friend, whose generosity and hospitality knew no bounds. Deb, you opened your home and your heart to Kathy, Jeff, and their family during countless hospital stays, providing them with comfort and love when they needed it most. Your selfless kindness will never be forgotten. Your love, support, and prayers have been a blessing beyond measure. From the depths of our hearts—thank you. Memorial Contributions | |