Provence, Kathleen Ann's Obituary
Kathleen Ann (Haslinger) Provence, 83, of Fort Myers, Florida, passed away peacefully on February 25, 2025.
Kathleen was born on June 23, 1941, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, the daughter of the late Joseph Michael Haslinger and Gertrude (Burris) Hapgood. Kathleen valued education and prided herself as being a lifelong learner. She earned her GED and attended Rock Valley College.
Kathleen retired from Illinois Bell Telephone Company after a dedicated 27-year career. She began as an operator and advanced through roles as a service representative at the AT&T phone center store and call center, working in repair and as a central office technician, ultimately retiring as a communications consultant. Kathleen received numerous awards for customer service excellence and sales, but the honor she was most proud of was The Alexander Graham Bell Award for extraordinary community service.
A lifelong servant to others, Kathleen gave generously of her time and talents. She contributed to programs such as All God's Children Shall Have Shoes, supported young mothers as a group facilitator at MELD, Rockford, and served vulnerable children as a Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) in the Juvenile Division of the Arizona Supreme Court. She also volunteered on the Foster Care Review Board and Removal Review Board for foster children.
Kathleen was a woman of deep faith and a devoted member of St. Germaine Catholic Church in Prescott, Arizona, where she served on the parish council and as a Eucharistic minister.
She loved God, her family, cooking, gardening, decorating, and dancing. Kathleen shared her joy of dance throughout her life—teaching at Arthur Murray Dance Studio as a young woman, performing at age 69 in the intergenerational ballet Eterno, and dancing for many years with the Casa Belles Dance Troupe under the direction of her dear friend Shirley Goss.
Kathleen is survived by her partner, Michael Cuculi; her sons Tim (Debra) Moffitt, William (Karen) Moffitt, and Kevin Moffitt; her daughter Jacquelyn (Kevin) Ruch; grandchildren Krishana (Ryan) Fritz, Cassandra Moffitt, Stephanie (Austin Bennett) Ruch, Brennan Ruch, Kristina (Andrew) James, Robert Mahurin, Ryan Mahurin, and Elizabeth Ruch; great-grandchildren Aubrey and Ashlyn Fritz, and Gabriel Mitchell; her brother John (Michiko) Williams and sister Sandra (Frank) Ricketts; as well as many beloved nieces, nephews, and her cherished dog Abbey.
She was preceded in death by her former husbands, Neil Moffitt and Barry Kollberg; her son David Nash; her parents Joseph Haslinger and Gertrude (Burris) Hapgood; brothers Lewis Hopkins and Earl Haslinger, Jr.; and sisters Corine Ruth Allen, Betty Jo Haslinger, Laura Williams, and Beth Ibison.
A visitation will be held on Wednesday, March 26, from 10:30 to 11:00 a.m. at Parrish United Methodist Church, 12180 US-301, Parrish, Florida immediately preceding her Celebration of Life which will take place at 11:00 a.m., officiated by Reverend Dr. Christopher Schmidt.
The family would like to thank the caring staff at Riviera Palms for the exceptional care they provided to Kathleen in her final days and to our friends and family for their support.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations in Kathleen’s memory may be made to Yavapai CASA for Kids Foundation, PO Box 28070, Prescott Valley, AZ 86312, or online at www.yavapaicasaforkids.org.
Online condolences may be shared at www.skywaymemorial.com.
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