Kathryn M. “Kay” Guncheon of Oak Park died suddenly on June 12, 2010. Born in Kingston, R.I., she was raised primarily by a pioneering mother who unexpectedly became a single parent when her husband, a renowned medical researcher, died of staph at a young age. A scientist herself, her mother later became Cincinnati’s first female city biologist.
Kay earned a B.A. in art history from the University of Rochester, N.Y., and during World War II worked as a cartographer in the maps department in Washington, D.C. In 1947 she married her childhood sweetheart, Ward Guncheon. They moved to Chicago, when Ward became a CPA at Glenn Ingram and Company, a medium-sized CPA firm where he would eventually become president. After living in LaGrange, the family finally settled in Oak Park in 1963. Active at St. Edmund Grade School and Fenwick High School, she served as president of their respective Mothers’ clubs.
She and her husband enjoyed world travel, family vacations in Michigan and Wisconsin, and spending time with their kids. She is described as having a great sense of humor, being a wicked competitor at card games, and enjoying people. Family members say she loved being a mother even more than playing duplicate bridge.
Kathryn Guncheon is survived by her children, Andrea (the late Larry) Delaney, Paul, Mark (Blair), Kelly (Holly), and Michael (Carol); her siblings, Walter (Marie) May and Robert (Ruth) May; and her grandchildren, Keri, Sean, Max, Cooper, Norris, Joe, Kit, Kathryn Greer, Izabel, Rowen, and Vienne. She was preceded in death by her husband, Ward C. Guncheon; her son, Ward C. Guncheon Jr.; and her parents, Henry G. May and Marguerite I. May.
Visitation will be held on Sunday, June 20 from 4 to 7 p.m. at Drechsler, Brown & Williams Funeral Home. Prayers are scheduled Monday at 9:45 a.m. at the funeral home with Mass at St. Edmund Church at 10:30 a.m., followed by interment at Queen of Heaven Cemetery in Hillside.