Kathleen Funston Bakersfield, California Obituary

Kathleen Funston

<p>Kathleen Laura Funston (née Duns)</p><p>May 28, 1954 - October 5, 2021</p><p><br></p><p>Kathleen, ‘Kathy’ to most, passed away Tuesday, October 5, 2021, in Bakersfield, California. She was born May 28, 1954, in San Rafael, California, to John and Charlotte Duns. She grew up in Northern California before attending college first at the University of California, Santa Barbara and then graduating from Humboldt State University. She lived with her family in many places across the Western U.S. before eventually settling in Bakersfield. She worked for Kern County Information Technology Services for many years until retiring in late 2020. </p><p><br></p><p>Kathy was a sweet, vibrant person who found great joy in traveling and exploring other cultures. She visited over a dozen countries, always discovering new foods to try and people to talk to on her journeys. She especially loved Italy, which she first visited as an exchange student in high school and later traveled to many times, maintaining a close bond with her host sisters until her passing. In addition to Italian, Kathy was also fluent in French, which she taught for several years, and liked spending time with her French Tea friends. She enjoyed dancing and being a part of the Black Gold Cloggers, particularly dancing at the Kern County Fair each year. She also loved to serve in her church, Laurel Glen Bible, through the nursery and audio visual department, and to gather weekly with the Halftimers. Kathy was a caring, dependable friend and kept in touch with friends from high school, college, and La Leche League; old neighbors from Orange County; and co-workers after retiring. </p><p><br></p><p>Above all, family was very important to Kathy and she loved gathering for birthdays, holidays, and other celebrations. Among her favorite memories were days spent at the beach with her children and grandchildren, but even simple things like a phone call or shared meal were moments she cherished deeply. She was the glue that kept the family close after her father passed away in 2009 and her mother in 2011. She is survived by her children, Erin Salyer (Scott) and Jeffrey Funston (Elizabeth Gresk), and her grandchildren, Sarah and Joshua Salyer, who were the absolute joys of her later years. She is also survived by her brothers, and many nieces, nephews, and extended family in both the U.S. and Italy.</p><p><br></p><p>A celebration of life service will be held Saturday, November 13, 2021, at 2:00 p.m. at Laurelglen Bible Church, 2801 Ashe Road, Bakersfield, CA 93309. Please join her family as we honor the life of this amazing woman who will be greatly missed by all who had the pleasure to know her. In lieu of flowers, her family invites you to donate in Kathy’s honor to one of the organizations she supported: The American Cancer Society; The Mission at Kern County; or Habitat for Humanity. </p><p><br></p><p><br></p><p><br></p>
October 5, 202110/05/2021
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Obituary

Kathleen Laura Funston (née Duns)

May 28, 1954 - October 5, 2021


Kathleen, ‘Kathy’ to most, passed away Tuesday, October 5, 2021, in Bakersfield, California. She was born May 28, 1954, in San Rafael, California, to John and Charlotte Duns. She grew up in Northern California before attending college first at the University of California, Santa Barbara and then graduating from Humboldt State University. She lived with her family in many places across the Western U.S. before eventually settling in Bakersfield. She worked for Kern County Information Technology Services for many years until retiring in late 2020.


Kathy was a sweet, vibrant person who found great joy in traveling and exploring other cultures. She visited over a dozen countries, always discovering new foods to try and people to talk to on her journeys. She especially loved Italy, which she first visited as an exchange student in high school and later traveled to many times, maintaining a close bond with her host sisters until her passing. In addition to Italian, Kathy was also fluent in French, which she taught for several years, and liked spending time with her French Tea friends. She enjoyed dancing and being a part of the Black Gold Cloggers, particularly dancing at the Kern County Fair each year. She also loved to serve in her church, Laurel Glen Bible, through the nursery and audio visual department, and to gather weekly with the Halftimers. Kathy was a caring, dependable friend and kept in touch with friends from high school, college, and La Leche League; old neighbors from Orange County; and co-workers after retiring.


Above all, family was very important to Kathy and she loved gathering for birthdays, holidays, and other celebrations. Among her favorite memories were days spent at the beach with her children and grandchildren, but even simple things like a phone call or shared meal were moments she cherished deeply. She was the glue that kept the family close after her father passed away in 2009 and her mother in 2011. She is survived by her children, Erin Salyer (Scott) and Jeffrey Funston (Elizabeth Gresk), and her grandchildren, Sarah and Joshua Salyer, who were the absolute joys of her later years. She is also survived by her brothers, and many nieces, nephews, and extended family in both the U.S. and Italy.


A celebration of life service will be held Saturday, November 13, 2021, at 2:00 p.m. at Laurelglen Bible Church, 2801 Ashe Road, Bakersfield, CA 93309. Please join her family as we honor the life of this amazing woman who will be greatly missed by all who had the pleasure to know her. In lieu of flowers, her family invites you to donate in Kathy’s honor to one of the organizations she supported: The American Cancer Society; The Mission at Kern County; or Habitat for Humanity.




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Events

Nov
13
Service
Saturday, November 13 2021
02:00 PM
Laurelglen Bible Church
2801 Ashe Road
Bakersfield, CA 93309
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