Popular Holy Spirit High Teacher Passes Away Suddenly

The Holy Spirit High School family is in mourning after the sudden death of a popular teacher and an alumna of the school. Kathleen Villano, a 1973 graduate of Holy Spirit and a Ventnor resident died suddenly on Thursday, Oct. 5 at 68.

After retiring as a teacher from Mainland Regional High School, Mrs. Villano had returned to Holy Spirit High School as a part-time religion teacher last year and became a full time history teacher this year.

Kate Villano had been a stand out athlete in her days as a student at Holy Spirit and at the University of Notre Dame, where she was a member of the first women's basketball team at the university. Kate had been inducted into Norte Dame's Monogram Club last fall, according to her obituary.

After marrying and having twin daughters, she decided to become a teacher and received her masters from Rutgers and began a 30 year teaching career, where she touched countless lives.

Holy Spirit High School remembered Mrs. Villano for being a "loving and caring wife, mother, grandmother, aunt, friend, colleague, teammate, coach, and the consummate educator. Her life was a living example of her Catholic values and was a positive presence in the lives of all who knew her."

Her grieving family lovingly recalled Kate in her obituary:

When she wasn’t in the classroom, Kate could be seen coaching on the fields across South Jersey or cheering on her nieces, nephews and students. Kate was a mom to everyone, and everyone’s biggest fan. Kate was the one to send clippings and photos from the paper of accolades large and small. She was the one to host hot cocoa for the entire neighborhood of kids after Santa in the Park. Kate was everywhere, all at once, all the time. She cared deeply and loved with her whole heart. She leaves behind a void, and we are all broken from her passing.

Our condolences to her husband and family. See Mrs. Kathleen Villano's obituary.