Obituary of Kathy Ellen Reich

LEXINGTON—Kathy Ellen Reich, age 60, passed away on Friday, January 31, 2014. She ended her earthly journey surrounded by her loving family after a six-month battle with cancer. We rejoice in the fact that she is now with her savior; absent from the body is to be present with the Lord. Born February 21, 1953 in Rockville Center, New York, she was the daughter of the late Hildegard Emma Knoll and Albert Arthur Drasser. Kathy was a resident of Franklin Square, NY for 21 years. She graduated from Hunter-Bellevue School of Nursing in NYC on January 11, 1975. A week later she married John Gary Reich whom she had known from the age of 7. She then resided in Lexington, SC. Kathy and John have been married for 39 years. Kathy worked as an RN at Baptist Hospital, Lexington Medical Center, and Richland County Health Department prior to enjoying 10 wonderful years raising her children at home. While establishing a home filled with warmth, love, and home-cooked meals, she was a perfect wife and mother. She stayed involved in her husband's and children's activities at work, church, school, sports, and music. Kathy resumed her nursing profession at Richland County Health Department in 1991. For the past 22 years Kathy has worked at Helping Hands Adult Daycare, which she considered a ministry, more than a job. She was a healer, an advocate, a teacher, and a tender-hearted warrior for those less fortunate than herself. She was known for her quick wit, but even quicker offer of love and care for the disabled and elderly patients she loved and served. Kathy enjoyed working in the yard, manicuring her flower gardens, walking her trails and enjoying her loyal canine companions over the years; Goetzle, Pyro, Rufus and Annie. She often noted our canines' ability to provide unconditional love. She demonstrated the love of God to all who were privileged to know her; friends, family, co-workers, neighbors, and even those she had never before met. She was faithful in prayer and in scripture reading, and to anyone who had a need she was quick to try and meet that need with prayer, love, wisdom and compassion. Her spiritual gifts of Giving and Helps were evident in all areas of her life. Kathy fought the good fight of faith and has now arrived at her true and everlasting home with the One who created her, saved her, and prepared a place for her, with Him forever. Kathy would not want us to dwell on the events of the past six months, but rather reflect on the many blessings of her life and the way she was able to honor the Lord and be a blessing to others. She would also want us to rejoice that she is now with her Savior and will be waiting for each one of us who believe to follow. She wanted to share her favorite Bible verse, 1st John 5:13 "I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so you may know that you have eternal life." Kathy is survived by her husband, John Gary Reich, her sons, John Adam (Amanda) Reich of Boston, and Andrew Reich of Lexington. Her siblings Karen (Jerry) Young of Norfolk, Virginia, Kenneth (Christine) Drasser of Copiague, NY and Kyra (Rudy) Carbone of Seneca, SC. She was preceded in death by paternal grandparents Katherine and Albert Drasser and maternal grandparents Helen and Emil Knoll. The family wishes to thank the staff at SC Oncology, Lexington Medical Center, Tri-County Hospice, Hospitality House of Charlotte, Carolina Medical Center, Levine Cancer Institute, and the Riverside Surgical Group. A special thanks is extended to Drs. Hutchinson & Sabbaghian, Rhonda, Barbara, and others who gave unselfish care and compassion over the duration of Kathy's illness. Visitation will be at Thompson Funeral Home, 4720 Augusta Road Lexington, SC 29072 Saturday February 8, 2014 from 4:00pm-6:00pm. A celebration of life will be held 3:00pm Sunday, February 9,2014 at Northside Baptist Church, 4347 Sunset Blvd Lexington 29072. Interment will be after the Celebration of Life at Celestial Memorial Gardens, West Columbia SC. In lieu of potted plants and flowers, memorials may be made to Northside Baptist Church- Forward Campaign 4347 Sunset Blvd Lexington 29072 or Oakwood Baptist Church- Student Ministry 3520 Mineral Springs Rd Lexington 29073. In the Midst of Life's Storms Remember …"Christ Came To Save" Luke 19:10