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Kathleen Novy
Kathleen Novy
Cedar Rapids
Kathleen Novy, 84, passed away peacefully on March 31, 2025, in Edwardsville, Illinois, with her children Mary and Michael by her side. A visitation will be held at Teahen Funeral Home on Saturday, April 12, 2025 from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m., with a short service following. A private burial will follow at a later date.
She was born June 12, 1940, in Anamosa, Iowa, to Charles Niles and Mary (Shifflett) Niles Weber. Kathie was a beloved daughter, sister, wife, mother, grandmother, teacher, and friend to those fortunate enough to cross her path.
Her light-hearted, often sarcastic humor had you laughing so hard your sides ached, or at the very least, shaking your head with a smile. She attended Mount Mercy College and earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in English and a Master’s Degree from the University of Northern Iowa.
In Cedar Rapids she met her soulmate and husband James Novy, and they married on May 16, 1964. Between acting in community theater, advocating for women’s rights, directing plays, teaching, and attending Iowa Hawkeye football games, they started a family, welcoming their daughter, Mary, in 1968 and son, Michael, in 1970.
She enjoyed entertaining and hosting themed parties, Sunday picnics with friends, swimming at the pool, shopping, antiquing, and searching for hidden treasures at garage sales!
Grandma Novy adored her grandchildren and great-grandchildren, spoiling them with gifts and with her goofy personality and funny faces that always made them laugh. After her family, her greatest delight was teaching. The creativity, humor, and unpredictability of her students energized and fueled her, and her lively, crazy, and often unconventional style made a lifelong impression on her students.
Kathleen was preceded in death by her parents, Charles and Mary; sister Marylou (Niles) Benjamin; brothers-in-law Reverend Father Thomas Williams, Anthony DeSousa and Allen Conrad; and nephew Vincent Thomas. Surviving are her husband Jim, daughter Mary (Joseph Powell) Novy of St. Petersburg, Florida; son Michael (Julie) Novy of O’Fallon, Illinois; grandchildren Christian (Hannah) Novy of O’Fallon, Illinois; Andrew Novy of Colorado Springs, Colorado; Nicholas Novy, Joseph Novy, and Zachary Novy of O’Fallon, Illinois; great-grandsons Joseph Novy and Samuel Novy of O’Fallon, Illinois; her sisters, Jody Williams of Glendale, California, and Jane Conrad of Monticello, Iowa; and five nephews and a niece.
In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests that you consider a tribute in Kathleen’s name to the Cedar Rapids Public Library Foundation at https://www.crlibrary.org/foundation/give
Online condolences can be left at www.teahenfuneralhome.com.
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