Kathleen G Alholm

Kathy Alholm was born on February 7, 1950 in DeKalb, Illinois to Robert Gallagher and Rosemary (Connors) Gallagher. She had two siblings Kevin Gallagher and Sheila (Gallagher) Dillon. Kathy graduated from Notre Dame High School in Dekalb in 1968 and graduated from St. Mary’s College in South Bend, Indiana in 1972.

While at St. Mary’s, Kathy met a Notre Dame law student from Colleyville, Texas named Anthony “Tony” Alholm. In the summer of 1973, Tony graduated from law school and they married. Following a brief stop in Springfield, Illinois, Kathy and Tony moved to the Chicagoland area eventually settling in Glen Ellyn. They had three sons: Matthew, Daniel, and Timothy. They were married for twenty-six years before Tony tragically died of cancer in 1999 at the age of 49.

Kathy’s door was always open, and her house served as a second home to many. There was nothing she loved more than the sights and sounds of her backyard full of boys playing on her basketball court or softball field. She welcomed all and was always happy to serve as a surrogate mother or grandmother for a few hours. As her own children and their friends got older, she was more than happy to host new generations of young people into her home. For twenty-five years she hosted The Alholms’ Annual Backyard Basketball Bash every August.

She loved the Cubs and she loved the camaraderie she felt at work. She was blessed with a wonderful group of friends. She was an amazing wife, mother, grandmother, sister, mother-in-law, sister-in-law, aunt, and friend. She loved many and many loved her.

Kathy is survived by her children Matthew Alholm, Daniel (Brooke) Alholm, and Timothy (Kerry) Alholm; her grandchildren Ellie Alholm, Parker Alholm, Anthony Alholm, Cole Alholm, and Fiona Alholm, her brother Kevin (Kathy) Gallagher, her sister Sheila (Michael) Dillon; nieces Megan Pogge, Nora Olson, Katie Kenney, Clare Gallagher, Mary Brigid Creek and Moira Dillon and her nephews Brendan Gallagher and Martin Gallagher.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to help support three of the young boys who played in her backyard that recently lost their father. Checks can be made to: The Iarrobino Children’s Education Fund c/o Glen Ellyn Bank & Trust, 357 Roosevelt Road, Glen Ellyn, IL 60137.

There will be a memorial gathering at Leonard Memorial Funeral Home (www.leonardmemorialhome.com) 565 Duane St. Glen Ellyn on Wednesday evening, December 30th from 6 to 8 PM. There will be a funeral Mass at St. Petronille Church, 420 Glenwood Ave, Glen Ellyn on Thursday at 11:00 am. Burial will follow at the Afton Cemetery in DeKalb, IL.

There will be strict limitations on the number of people allowed in the memorial service at one time as well as restrictions on the number of people who will be allowed to attend the funeral. The family asks that everyone make safe decisions and be cognizant and respectful of these limitations. If you plan on attending the funeral, we ask that you contact one of the Alholm children to ensure that space will be available.

The family will also be holding a memorial service once it becomes safe for people to gather in large groups.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Kathleen G Alholm, please visit our floral store.