Kathryn Louise Scarlett

Kathryn Louise Scarlett, 68, of Poplar Grove, formerly of Wauconda, passed away on November 24, 2021.   She was born in Waukegan to Burton and Dorothy (Brown) Vaughan on June 19, 1953.

On April 15, 1972, Kathryn was united in marriage to Steven Scarlett at Christ Episcopal Church in Waukegan.  He preceded her in death just after their 47th wedding anniversary on April 19, 2019.

Kathryn liked listening to ABBA, Judy Collins, Elton John, Cat Stevens, The Three Tenors, The Beatles, Simon & Garfunkle, and the King Singers. She would always sing along.

There’s a scene in the Laurel and Hardy movie Way Out West where Laurel and Hardy dance to a country song. Every time she’d watch them do that dance, she’d laugh until there were tears standing in her eyes. She was fond of comedy, so long as it was in good taste. Though there were exceptions to that rule, as there always are. She liked Jack Benny and Woody Allen and Monty Python and she and Steven would often be heard quoting some line or doing their routines back and forth.

She and Steven were fond of the saying: “Life is what happens when you’re making other plans.” This comes from a John Lennon song, but versions of it can be traced back through human history. The likely source of this comes from the Old Testament Proverbs, xvi, 9, which reads: “A man’s heart deviseth his way: but the lord directeth his steps.”

Kathryn and her family attended Episcopal churches on and off throughout her life. The Church of the Holy Apostles represented the longest and best relationship with the church that Kathryn would have. She taught Sunday school there briefly.

She had a few jobs, most notably a position as a computer operator for Vance Publishing. However, she would always rather be remembered as a mother to three exceptional children, as well as seven billion other people by way of unconditional love. She was kind beyond reason and charitable to a fault.

Survivors include her children, Laura (Dennis) Funk, of Poplar Grove, IL, Emily (Michael) Martellotta of Oakbrook, IL, and David Sarlett of McHenry, IL; grandchildren, Erin Daly, Colin Daly, Joshua Funk, Ava Martellotta and Isabella Martellotta; and siblings, Mary (Larry) Mills and William (Vickie) Vaughan.

She was a lamb in a world of lions. Wherever kindness, charity, and love abide, so too does her spirit.

As a tribute to Kathryn, please take a minute to watch Amazing Graze - Judy Collins .