Today would have been Kathryn McConnell den Heeten’s 59th birthday. Please join her family and friends for a celebration of her life at Elberta’s Waterfront Park Pavilion from 1 to 5 pm this Saturday. Bring a dish to pass and a story about her to share. A memorial picnic also took place August 17 at Chipp-A-Waters Park near den Heeten’s other home, in Mt. Pleasant. The family request memorial donations be made to the American Cancer Society Hope Lodge Peter M. Wege Guest House.

Katy, also known as Kathy, grew up in Elberta on Lincoln Avenue and in her later years renovated and rented out her father’s house there, which she called the Elberta Hideaway. She was also a founding editor of the Elberta Alert, contributing restaurant reviews and poetry. She spent her career in education, most recently as the Dean of Student Services at Saginaw Chippewa Tribal College (SCTC), where she began working 20 years ago as the English instructor. Read more of Kathryn’s obituary here.