Obituaries

Kathleen A. Mertz, 82, of Danville, PA, passed away peacefully surrounded by her family on Saturday, December 23, 2023, at her farm in Valley Township, Montour County. She was born on October 27, 1941, in Danville, PA. Kathleen was the oldest daughter of the late Millard C. and Catherine (Krakowski) Mertz.

Kathleen graduated from Danville Area High School in 1959. She later continued her education as a psychology major at Bloomsburg State College in Bloomsburg PA.

Kathleen married her loving husband of 23 years, Brian L. Kile, on January 1, 2000.

After devoting time at home to raise her children, Kathleen served as a stockroom clerk at TRW in Danville for many years prior to her retirement in 2003.

Her talents for gardening, sewing, whittling, knitting, and baking were extraordinary gifts that she shared freely with those around her. From hand-stitched quilts to pies made from scratch with home-grown apples and strawberries, Kathleen always found something to give. Although she delighted in being outside on her farm, Kathleen’s greatest joy in life was sharing the things she loved with her children and grandchildren. Her legacy was creating something from nothing, then giving it away to those she loved. Just as the trees and flowers she once planted will continue to grow, her teachings of selflessness, humility, and personal integrity will live on in all whose lives she touched.

In addition to her husband, she is survived by three daughters; Karen Snyder and her husband John of Catawissa, PA (grandchildren Jacqueline, Jared, Ethan, and Anne); Colleen Baylor of Taneytown, MD (grandchildren Matthew and Madeline), and Heather McNelis of Bloomsburg, PA (grandchildren Garrett and Aiden). Kathleen leaves behind three sisters; Joanne, Rose, and Grace “Tina” and five brothers; Millard, Thomas, Robert, John, and Jim as well as numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by one son, Matthew Baylor and one sister, Jean.

Services will be private and held at the convenience of the family. Burial will be private at Riverview Cemetery, Northumberland, PA.

The family will provide flowers. Memorial contributions may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105 or online at Donate now to St. Jude and help children fight cancer - St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital (stjude.org) or the Thomas Beaver Free Library, 317 Ferry Street, Danville, PA 17821 or online at Support the Library – Thomas Beaver Free Library (tbflibrary.org) or the Mother Teresa Foundation online at Open Donation - Mother Teresa Foundation.

Arrangements are under the direction of Visneski Funeral Home, Inc 42 West Mahoning Street Danville PA 17821. www.visneski.com.