Kathryn ‘Kathi’ Ridner (Deno) Passes Away at Age 62 on December 29 After Brief Battle with Pancreatic Cancer

By  //  January 13, 2021

Kathi passed peacefully and surrounded by her loving family

Kathryn “Kathi” Ridner (Deno) left us on December 29, 2020, after a brief but courageous battle with pancreatic cancer. She passed peacefully and surrounded by her loving family.

Kathi will be remembered for her beautiful smile that could light up a room, her engaging personality, and the passion she brought to her work and the community she served.

BREVARD COUNTY, FLORIDA – Kathryn “Kathi” Ridner (Deno) left us on December 29, 2020, after a brief but courageous battle with pancreatic cancer. She passed peacefully and surrounded by her loving family.

Born in Alpena, Michigan on December 13, 1958, she was the seventh of nine children of Eugene “Skeets” and Marie (Gapske) Deno. She moved to the Detroit area not long after graduating from Alpena High School and worked in the medical and dental fields.

She met her husband, Tim in 1985 and they married in December 1988. They were blessed with the birth of son Conner in 1990 and daughter Olivia in 1993.

Due to a job transfer for Tim, the family resided in Northern California from late 1993 to early 2005. During this time, in addition to raising their children and supporting Tim’s career, Kathi was active in her career and various community organizations.

After moving to Brevard County, Florida in 2005, Kathi started working at One Senior Place in Viera, eventually becoming the Director. This provided her with the perfect outlet to passionately support aging seniors and their families. She would later go on to work on the Boomer Guide, a resource for seniors, and with VITAS Hospice as a Community Liaison.

Kathi will be remembered for her beautiful smile that could light up a room, her engaging personality, and the passion she brought to her work and the community she served. She loved people and never met a stranger. She served on the board of several Community organizations and volunteered with countless others.

She had many friends that came from her professional and community engagements, as well as her “work-out” crew.

While she kept her health battle mostly private, she was so thankful for the support and prayers of friends and family. As a testament to her deep faith, she never complained about her medical challenges but accepted them with faith that this was part of Christ’s plan.

Kathi is survived by her loving husband of 32 years, Tim, and children Conner (Brandi), and Olivia (Manny) Collazo, mother-in-law Joan Ridner, sisters Carol Kimball, Nancy Katzenberger, Mari (Jon) Crow, Jeanne (David) Ellis, Sue (Jeff) Hanthorn and brother Jerry Deno, brother-in-law Gary (Sheila) Ridner, sister-in-laws Nancy Deno and Cindy (Jon) Range, and countless nieces and nephews.

Kathi was hoping to meet her first grandchild due in February but will instead serve as her guardian angel. She was predeceased by her parents, Eugene and Marie, brothers Rob and Jon, and brother-in-law Bill Katzenberger.

For more information on Kathi’s Celebration of Life Event on January 23 at 1 p.m. in Viera, to make a donation to the Kathryn Ridner Fund through Community Foundation for Brevard to support her favorite charities, to leave a personal message/tribute, and to learn more about Kathi’s inspiring legacy and community involvement, please visit the website kathiridner.com

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