Kathalee (Lentz) Cottingham

Kathalee (Lentz) Cottingham passed away peacefully on December 8th. She will be missed by her daughter Anne and Paul Ondreicka of Griswold, son Jay and Sheri Cottingham of North Stonington, her three granddaughters, Alexa and Sydne Ondreicka and Emma Cottingham.

Kathalee was born July 16, 1938 in Atchison, Kansas to Frank and Elizabeth (Stannard) Lentz.  She received a Bachelor of Fine Arts from the University of Kansas, Lawrence in 1959. In 1961 she married John Kirk Cottingham and raised two children, Anne and John (Jay). They lived in many states in the Midwest throughout their marriage, from Kansas City, to Omaha, to Houston and back to Kansas City, before settling in Mystic, CT.

Kathalee started her career at Hallmark in Kansas City, and later worked at BBP as an Illustrator, in Waterford, CT, where she eventually retired.  A member of the Mystic garden club for many years, she was an avid gardener. She was a member of the Westerly Chorus, where she performed Twelfth Night yearly, performing several times in other countries.  

Kathalee later moved to Niantic where she lived for almost 30 years.  A talented artist herself, she had an appreciation for all things art. She enjoyed the beach, hiking the Appalachian Trail and mountains in NH, and traveling with her siblings, but most of all, loved spending time with her granddaughters.

She is predeceased by two sisters, Genny Basler and Elizabeth Ross, and is survived by sisters, MarySue and Ron Johnson of Maryland, Christy and Paul Winterhauf of North Carolina, Sarah and Larry Spellman of New Jersey,  brother Stannard and Julie Lentz of Colorado,  and many beloved nieces and nephews.

A celebration of life will be held by the family at a later date.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Kathalee (Lentz) Cottingham, please visit our floral store.