Kathleen Hastedt Singletary, 75, of Clarendon Hills, Illinois, passed away on August 23, 2022. Kate was born November 13,1946 in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, daughter of Howard Eugene Hastedt and Jane Snyder Hastedt, and graduated from Dearborn High School in Dearborn, Michigan. She was a lifelong learner, earning five degrees, including a law degree from Loyola University of Chicago at age 50.
Kate’s love of learning blossomed into a passion for teaching and enriching the lives of young people. In 1974, she began a celebrated career as an English teacher at Lyons Township High School in La Grange, Illinois, that spanned 31 years. At LTHS, she left an indelible imprint on countless colleagues and students as a teacher, administrator, and mentor in English, speech, theater, and the radio station, WLTL.
After her teaching career, Kate owned and managed the award-winning Long Dell Inn in Cape Cod, Massachusetts with her husband Dennis Singletary. During this time, she was also the Regional Lead of Obama for America in Massachusetts and a grassroots organizer for Governor Deval Patrick, also serving as a delegate for the State of Massachusetts at the Democratic National Convention. Kate’s life was filled with many other roles and adventures, always in service of her family, friends, and community, especially her fellow retired teachers.
For all her many accomplishments, the greatest joy of Kate’s life was her family: Dennis, her children and grandchildren, brother, many cousins, nieces and nephews, and great-nieces and nephews, who will always treasure the memories of family reunions in Cape Cod.
Kate is survived by her beloved husband, Dennis Paul Singletary; her children, Heather Jo Morrison and Daniel Patrick Morrison; her brother Ken Hastedt (Kara); her cherished grandchildren Skye Ted Morrison, Charlotte Yvonne Fewer, Derek Evan Chevalier and Aiden Robert Chevalier; and, she was a treasured aunt to her niece and nephews, Brad Hastedt (Susan), Jeff Hastedt (John), Tim Hastedt (Heather), Leah Isbell (Rick), and Tyler Hastedt.
As her many former students will remember, one of Kate’s favorite works to teach was Charles Dickens’ A Tale of Two Cities, a story about redemption and the good that exists in everyone. She devoted her life to bringing out that good in her country, her students, family, and everyone whom she encountered in her journey. As we mourn her passing, we celebrate her life. Like the protagonist of that novel, she holds a “sanctuary in our hearts, and in the hearts of her descendants, generations hence.” May she know the “far better rest,” until the world is made new and we are together again.
A Memorial Service will be held at Community Presbyterian Church of Clarendon Hills, 39 N Prospect Ave, Clarendon Hills, Illinois, Saturday, October 8, 2022 at 11:00 a.m. followed by a Celebration of Life reception at 3pm and program at 4:00 p.m. at the Reber Center at Lyons Township High School, 100 S Brainard Ave, La Grange, Illinois. In lieu of flowers, please donate to the Kate Singletary Scholarship for Excellence in Broadcasting https://www.gofundme.com/f/KateFund. Checks also may be sent to Lyons Township High School with “Kate Fund” in the memo.
What a blessing she was to so many. Her legacy lives on. Her longtime hometown friend -SHallMcC
Kate was such an accomplished person and I remember how she helped so many teachers and students at LTHS. I recently started serving as the recording secretary of the WLS/IRTA Exec. Board and Kate’s position as the Board President covered so many areas including the Legislative Committee. May she rest in peace.