Kathleen R. Johnson (nee O’Neill), of Ambler, who dedicated herself to taking care of her beloved family and seized every chance to celebrate her Irish roots, died Friday, Oct. 4 in hospice. She was 83.

Daughter of the late Henry and Kathryn O’Neill, she is survived by her devoted husband of 62 years, George D. Johnson, of Ambler, five children–Karen Brown (Ron) of Hatboro, Pamela Welkie of Allentown, George, Jr. (Joann) of North Wales, Christine Johnson-Hall (John) of Doylestown, and Stephen of Ambler, plus 14 grandchildren: Tara, Kerri, and Matthew Brown, John (Kate), Stephen, and Lauren Welkie, Kevin, Kaitlyn, and Kyle Johnson, Nicholas, Anna, and Josephine Hall, and Jaiden and Paige Johnson. Kathleen is also survived by her brother Gerald O’Neill of Abington and sister Margaret Driscoll (aka Bobbsey twin) of Whitemarsh. She was preceded in death by brothers Henry, Joseph, and Kevin, and sister Mary Ellen.

Growing up in Mount Airy, she helped care for Mary Ellen, who was confined to a wheelchair with cerebral palsy… reading to her, playing, and helping get her ready for bed. They shared a close bond. Years later, when Kathleen married her high school sweetheart George and moved out, “Mary Ellen sobbed for two days,” Margaret Driscoll recalled. “There was great devotion between the two of them.”

A graduate of Gwynedd Mercy College (now university) and Melrose Academy High School, she taught third grade at St. Francis of Assisi School in Germantown before moving as newlyweds to Fort Sill, Okla., where George served as an Army Captain. The couple eventually returned to Mount Airy, then Hatboro, where they raised five children. She loved the outdoors, gardening, and especially spending a week in Ocean City, N.J. each summer with her husband, children, siblings, and extended family. She loved to bike on the boardwalk and take photos of family events and gatherings. 

Kathleen took part every year in the O’Neill Christmas party, a tradition started by grandparents Emily and Joseph O’Neill, who had emigrated from County Tyrone, Northern Ireland, to Philadelphia. As the family grew, the party, featuring a visit by Santa, moved from her grandparents’ house in Oak Lane to family homes in Abington and Jenkintown. Eventually, the O’Neill crew grew so numerous no house could hold them. They gather at a country club now. 

“Wherever Mom was, was a party atmosphere,” said her daughter Christine. “You no sooner invited her over, then she’d say ‘What can I bring?’” 

Unfailingly kind and generous, with a warm smile, quick laugh, and cornflower blue eyes, Kathleen immediately made the friends of her children a part of the family, always interested in their latest news, with well-timed words of encouragement or treats to those who were struggling. Her family joked that she was keeping Hallmark in business, sending out a steady stream of cards and notes to loved ones. Hers was a life of Catholic faith and devotion, lived not by lectures but by generosity, kindness, caring, and love. 

“Kathleen always looked for who she could help next,” her sister said. “She didn’t even think of herself.”

In 1998, she and 64 members of the extended O’Neill clan journeyed to Northern Ireland to visit family homes. It was her second trip to trace her roots in the homeland. Parading up to the hill at Tullaghogue, legendary crowning place of the royal O’Neills, Kathleen was gifted by the family with a shimmering silver cape bearing a fish from the family crest, a mark of her central role in the family. 

A high school basketball and field hockey player, Kathleen later enjoyed playing tennis and golf with her husband and many friends. She shared her love of sports with her family, including raucous Thanksgiving weekend soccer matches that pitted the Johnson children against the Driscolls, where she cheered loudly from the sidelines wielding Twizzlers and sharing hot chocolate. Kathleen reveled in catching up with adored nieces, nephews, great nieces and nephews.

Every niece and nephew was quite sure she/he was Aunt Kwank’s favorite, said a (favorite) niece.

For decades and even into her 70s, Kathleen eagerly scaled the bleachers to watch her children, and later grandchildren, play soccer, field hockey, football, baseball, golf, run track, perform in marching bands and dance. 

A steadfast Eagles and Phillies fan, Kathleen was also an avid tailgater, known for her killer lasagna, meatballs and sauce. She was active in the LaSalle High School Mother’s Club. 

Her husband and children were the central focus and love of her life, her children recalled.

For years, she worked part-time as a secretary at Driscoll Construction Co. of Blue Bell, and at Fast Forms Plus in Fort Washington with her brother, Gerald.

She had a major sweet tooth, and doled out cookies, cupcakes and treats wherever she went. At home, her children would find her jellybean stash in the gravy boat. She would hide Swedish fish in my office drawer, a nephew recalled.

Kathleen was ready to celebrate, and tailgate, at a moment’s notice. When invited to witness the birth of her daughter Christine’s third child, she arrived at the delivery room with a small cooler, made friends with the nurses and watched in fascination, leaned in to every push. Once baby Josephine Mary arrived, Mom popped open the cooler with sandwiches, pickles, chips and sodas for her daughter and son-in-law, Christine recalled.

“Every new baby brought her joy,” Margaret Driscoll said.

No family wedding was complete until the dance floor was hopping and Kathleen’s Smithsonian-level collection of silly hats were distributed, the prize ones going to the fastest to grab them from her bags and bags of  headwear from around the world, said Christine. 

Relatives and friends are invited to a celebration of Kathleen’s life on Thursday, Oct. 10: 9:30-11:30 am visitation at Saint Alphonsus Catholic Church in Maple Glen, followed by Mass at 11:30 am. In lieu of flowers, contributions in her memory may be made to Abington Health Foundation/Jefferson Health Hospice at Warminster, 1200 Old York Road, Abington, PA 19001 or online at give.abingtonhealth.org/hospice.