Kathleen "Kay" Marie Fasano

Kathleen "Kay" M. Fasano, 83, a resident of Palatine for 50 years passed away peacefully on Tuesday, September 3, 2024. Born on December 12, 1940 to John and Marie Leddy, Kay grew up in Jersey City, New Jersey. She was deeply proud of her Irish heritage.

During an era when young women were expected to marry after high school Kay was determined to see the world. She set her sights on a career as a flight attendant and began working for Mohawk airlines in 1959. Her career would change her life in more ways than one.

On a routine flight from New York to Chicago, she met Victor Fasano, a business traveler from Chicago who would become the love of her life. Their serendipitous meeting in the skies led to a beautiful marriage of 39 years and three beautiful daughters.

Kay’s airline career spanned over 53 years and she retired from American Airlines in 2012. Kay traveled the globe and built lifelong friendships. At a time when mothers were not expected to work, Kay fought for her career while raising her family. Her quiet determination and strong will

was exemplified by her fight for the rights of women in the workplace. Kay and her fellow flight attendants changed airline policy, enabling her to have a career, be a mother, and instill in her daughters the strength and determination to achieve your goals. 

In addition to her professional accomplishments, Kay was a skilled cook, a talent she honed under the guidance of her Italian mother-in-law Rose Fasano. She mastered the art of traditional Italian cuisine, creating dishes that became beloved family traditions, passed down through the generations.

Kay was the loving wife of the late Victor P. Fasano; beloved mother of Adrienne (Craig) Bell of Chicago, IL, Karen (Jason) of Austin, TX and Cheryl (Michael) Gray of Atlanta, GA; cherished grandmother of Amanda, Taylor, Halsted, Teddy (Tinsley), Emma, Douglas, Ethan and Lauren; proud great-grandmother of Teddy IV "Cuatro" and sister of the late Patricia "Patsy" O'Brien.

The memorial mass for Kay will begin at 11:00 am at St. Benedict Catholic Church, 2215 W. Irving Park Rd., Chicago. Interment will be private. The celebration of Kay’s life will continue after mass from 1:00 pm-4:00 pm at Reclaimed Bar and Restaurant, 3655 N Western Ave, Chicago, IL 60618.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to ASPCA, www.aspca.org or to Alzheimer's Association, www.alz.org