Obituary: Kathleen Ann Masters

Obituary was published and funeral arrangements were entrusted to the care and direction of the Fred C. Dames Funeral Home and Crematory​.

Kathleen Ann Masters

Kathleen Ann Masters, 79, of Minooka, IL, passed away peacefully in her sleep during the early hours of July 9, 2026, after spending the previous day surrounded by family members. Kathy “Toodie”, a loving wife, mother, grandmother “Nana”, sister, and friend too many, was born on December 10, 1946, in Eau Claire, WI.

Kathy grew up in Milwaukee alongside her mother, Veronica “Roni” Maio, and her two younger brothers, Karl and Ken Maio. On November 22, 1963, she met the love of her life, Gregory R. Masters. The high school sweethearts married on June 7, 1969.

Following their marriage, Kathy and Greg shared a life of adventure, traveling and living coast-to-coast from California to Virginia and South Carolina. In 1975, they settled down in Illinois to raise their family. Kathy’s sincere love for reading, cooking, camping, nature walks, bird watching, looking for deer, playing board and card games, and opening presents (repeatedly shouting, “I like presents” throughout the Christmas morning and afternoon) was immense. However, that love could never match the boundless love she held for her family and friends.

We are all thankful to Kathy for showing us how to always be happy and teaching us the true meaning of selfless love.

Kathy is survived by her devoted husband, Greg; her son, Doug, and his wife, Karen Masters; her daughter, Andrea, and her husband, Marc Hilliard; and her two cherished granddaughters, Katherine “Katie” and Kourtney Masters.

Funeral Services for Kathleen A. Masters will be held on Friday, July 17, 2026, at 9:30 a.m. from the Fred C. Dames Funeral Home 3200 Black Rd., Joliet, IL to St. Mary’s Catholic Church, Minooka, IL, where a Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:30 a.m. Interment will follow at St. Mary’s Cemetery, Minooka, IL. Visitation will be held at the funeral home chapel on Thursday, July 16, 2026, from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. with a prayer service at 6:30 p.m.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in Kathy’s name can be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.

For more information, please call the Fred C. Dames Funeral Home at 815-741-5500, or visit her Memorial Tribute at www.fredcdames.com, where you can share a favorite memory or leave an online condolence.

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