Honoring Tradition.
Celebrating Life.

Katherine "Kay" Visota

August 18, 1926 - July 9, 2020
Grand Rapids, MI

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Visitation

Tuesday, July 14, 2020
10:00 AM EDT
Holy Spirit Catholic Church
2230 Lake Michigan Drive NW
Grand Rapids, MI 49504
Web Site

Service

Tuesday, July 14, 2020
11:00 AM EDT
Live Stream
Holy Spirit Catholic Church
2230 Lake Michigan Drive NW
Grand Rapids, MI 49504
Web Site

Contributions


At the family's request memorial contributions are to be made to those listed below. Please forward payment directly to the memorial of your choice.

VanAndel Institute for Parkinson's Research
333 Bostwick Ave. NE
Grand Rapids, MI 49503
Web Site

Flowers


Below is the contact information for a florist recommended by the funeral home.

Ball Park Floral
8 Valley Ave.
Grand Rapids, MI 49504
(616) 459-3409
Driving Directions
Web Site

Life Story / Obituary


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A woman of faith and an unwavering love of her God, Katherine “Kay” Visota lived her life to the fullest. A caring and generous woman, Kay will be remembered for her love of her family and her church.

In the middle of the roaring 20’s Kay’s mom Agatha had lost her first husband and had five children before marrying Fred Sevic. On August 18, 1926, unbelievably TV for the first time was demonstrated in a laboratory but in Grand Rapids, MI Agatha and Fred Sevic experienced a miracle of their own welcoming Katherine into their family which would eventually include nine siblings.

Her father Fred was a factory worker and the family made their home on Hamilton St. in Grand Rapids. The Sevics were members of SS Peter and Paul Catholic Church which was the beginning of Kay's life of faith. Days in the neighborhood were full for Kay, no need for organized activities her days were filled with her siblings and neighbor kids playing together and swimming in the nearby creek.

Kay was very close to her two youngest brothers Bill and Richard, she doted on all of them but was always covering for Bill with his adventures with the school nuns. She attended SS Peter and Paul school and worked at the rectory. The priests at the rectory appreciated her service to the church and paid her tuition to attend Mt. Mercy Catholic High School. As a teen Kay would attend dances but her guardian brothers wouldn’t let her dance with anyone but them.

Her early adult years found Kay working at Imperial Furniture Factory. About this time she was introduced to Stanley Visota by a neighbor. Stan, a good man, was a member of the greatest generation having served in WWII. Their courtship was short and they were married at SS Peter and Paul Church on May 3, 1947. This was the beginning of their 55-year journey together. They eventually settled in their home on Broadway Street in Grand Rapids, in 1950 they built their home on Edison Park Avenue where they would spend the rest of their years. They would transfer their church membership to a new parish on the upper west side, Holy Spirit Catholic Church and remain faithful members there for the rest of their lives.

Stan would work as a foreman at GM Fisher Body Plant 2. Kay and Stan never had children together but this didn’t prevent them from having a large family of nieces and nephews from both sides of the family. They would treat their nieces and nephews as if they were their own children. They attended all the family functions, take “their” kids traveling with them and spoil them with generous gifts. Auntie Kay was not only cherished she was considered a second “mom” and eventually “grandma” to her great nieces and nephews. Always she was part of sporting events, holidays, birthdays and baptisms. She called everyone “Doll” and stayed in touch with a call or a card.

Kay and Stan loved to travel, some of their favorite destinations included Florida every year, the U.P., Mackinaw, Montreal and visiting the Cross in the Woods at Indian River, MI was one of Kay's favorite destinations. They began attending brother Bill’s army reunions and became honorary members of his unit. Kay was meticulous at journaling the trips, where they traveled, what they did and even what they spent.

Kay loved sports, except when they included the U of M. She was a passionate MSU Football fan and attended games into her 80’s.

Kay could be described with many adjectives, spunky, feisty, caring, kind, generous and don’t forget strong willed and stubborn. But her hallmark was her devout faith, a prayer warrior and her love of God would how she would want to be remembered.

VISOTA, Katherine (Kay)

Grand Rapids, MI

Age 93, passed away Thursday, July 9, 2020. Katherine was a loving and devoted wife to her deceased husband, Stanley. Katherine was the daughter of Fred and Agatha Sevic. Besides her parents and husband, she is preceded in death by several brothers and sisters; Pauline Sabaitis, Frank Zaidel, Jean Kutchins, Stanley Zaidel, Joseph Zaidel, Adam Sevic, Francis Klinge, William Sevic and Richard Sevic. She is survived by many nieces and nephews. Katherine retired from Smith Industries (Lear Siegler) and was a member of Holy Spirit Parish for over 70 years. Katherine loved to bake, work in her yard, travel with her late husband Stanley and was an avid sports fan, especially devoted to Michigan State University. Above all else she loved her church and her faith, spending her later years watching EWTN and praying her rosary. It was common to hear her say that she watched three masses that day! The Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Tuesday, July 14, 2020 at 11 AM at Holy Spirit Catholic Church, 2230 Lake Michigan Drive NW. Friends may visit beginning at 10 AM. Interment will be in SS. Peter and Paul Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the VanAndel Institute for Parkinson's Research. To read more of Kay's life story, leave a memory or condolence visit www.heritagelifestory.com