Kathryn Elizabeth Mingin Obituary
Our much beloved mother, grandmother, great grandmother, sister, aunt and friend, Kathryn Elizabeth Mingin, 86, of Burbank, passed away on May 5, 2021 after a long illness.
She was born to the late James and Leah Keefe on May 5, 1935 in Peoria, IL. The Keefe family was known in the community for their love of the arts. Kathryn, also known as Kay, studied ballet from early childhood until age eighteen, her mother was an accomplished classical pianist who performed with Kay’s brother, Jim, a talented singer. Kay was active in school as well, where she was a cheerleader, and graduated from Academy of Our Lady High School in 1953.
The Keefe family then moved to Los Angeles, where Kay married the late Anthony “Tony” Mingin in 1956 and lovingly raised their 8 children.
Kay loved to travel. She took trips to Europe and Mexico as a teenager with her family, and traveled to Europe twice in her fifties. She also enjoyed taking trips well into her later years to visit relatives and celebrate family weddings.
Kay was passionate about the arts. She adored watching her favorite performers, dancers such as Moira Shearer, Gene Kelly, and Edward Villella, or the opera singer, Pavarotti. She also loved to read, especially biographies and mysteries. Her excitement after seeing a performance or having read a good book was effusive. She felt deeply, and shared this so tenderly and graciously with her family and others.
Kay had an abiding religious faith. She was an active part of the Catholic parishes, Blessed Sacrament in San Diego and Saint Finbar in Burbank. Kay was also active in the community and promoted this in her family, demonstrated by her children participating in school sports, scouting organizations, theatre groups, and many other interests and activities.
Kay was also a well-respected staff member at Saint Joseph Medical Center for more than forty years. Her longest tenure was in Cancer Data Services. Her fondness for her colleagues was palpable as she shared stories of their working to meet a deadline, all the while enjoying each other’s sense of humor. She enjoyed the challenge of the detail-oriented work, and was proud to have routinely achieved extremely high ratings, even as she worked part-time after her official retirement.
Kay had an enormous love for her family. She had an innate empathy and ability to connect individually with each of her children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and extended family. Kay shared her heart and love with her family by a kind look, affection in her voice, or opening her arms wide for a big hug. Her love radiated and is with us still.
Kay is survived by her brother James (Jean) Keefe and her children Moira (Art) Repola, Jim (Larry Gilbert) Mingin, Audrey (Charlie) McVay, Mark Mingin, Mary Mingin, Theresa (Brian) Huston, and Michael Mingin. She is also survived by her grandchildren Shannon (Shawn) Leska, Michelle (Bryan) Fagerholt, Krista (Nathan) Arellano, Nicole (Clint) Marley, Brianna (John) Kurowski, and Chandler Huston, as well as her great-grandchildren who knew her as GIGI - Chase and Camden Leska, Lucy and Brady Fagerholt, Ethan and Ella Arellano, Hailey, Lia and Jaden Marley, and Tatum, Wyatt and Easton Kurowski. Also surviving are her nephews Shawn (Carol) Black, Geoff (Ramya) Black, and Chris (Didi) Black and their children and grandchildren. Her sister, Mary “Mibsie” Frazier, her son, Greg Mingin, and her grandchildren, Madison Huston and Matthew Mingin, predeceased her.
A memorial service will be held on August 6, 2021 at 10:00 am:
St Charles Borromeo Catholic Church Chapel
10800 Moorpark Street, North Hollywood, California
The family is requesting that donations be made to Providence Saint Joseph Foundation https://supportsaintjoseph.org
