Kathy Hendricks, at the age of 72, passed away on November 26, 2022 in Paradise, Michigan.
Kathy was born December 20, 1949 in Detroit, Michigan to the late Dr. John and Jean (Hopper) McAlpine. She was beloved by many in the Sault Ste. Marie and Paradise communities and by her family and friends she leaves behind.
Kathy was deeply committed to her faith and spent many years contributing to the parishes she attended as a new member of Our Lady of Victory Parish in Paradise, Michigan and a previous member of Holy Name of Mary Parish in Sault Ste. Marie for over 40 years.
Prior to finding her home in the Sault Ste. Marie community, Kathy had an adventurous life with husband and best friend, Jim. Kathy was a graduate of Oakland University class of 1972 with a degree in English Literature. Following graduation from college, she joined the Peace Corps with her soon to be husband in Sarawak, Malaysia. Kathy taught English to students at Kuching High School where she made numerous Chinese and Malay friends. She and Jim Hendricks were married soon after her arrival at St. Joseph Cathedral by Father Harry Van Erp. They enjoyed living in Southeast Asia while in the Peace Corps and moved back to Micronesia where they lived for four more years and gave birth to her two older children, Jeffrey and Eric. She was a high school English Literature teacher while in Palau while also establishing a library at the school.
After moving to Sault Ste. Marie in 1980, Kathy was deeply involved in re-opening St. Mary’s Catholic School and became its first librarian. In this role and using a $5,000 donation from the Knights of Columbus, she set up the complete library, populating the library with children’s literature and creating a complete digital cataloging system for the library.
In addition to her volunteer work at St. Mary’s school library, she also taught GED classes at the Chippewa County jail, was an Eastern Upper Peninsula team leader for the 2000 Census., and created her own used book business, Books in the Belfry, selling through Amazon in its early years. She had many hobbies throughout her life. She had great knowledge of antiques and loved going to auctions and purchasing beautiful antiques for her house. She especially enjoyed the MacDonald Thursday night auction at Pickford.
Kathy was an accomplished genealogist, having first explored her family tree and then moving on to local and UP history. She started the Chippewa County Genealogical Society, now incorporated into the Chippewa County Historical Society. She spent 10 years publishing the society’s newsletter and arranging presentations at the monthly meetings.
Kathy also led the effort to compile, transcribe and publish the complete list of baptisms from 1811 to 1900 at St Mary’s church in a hard bound 400 plus page book still available for sale at St Mary’s parish for researchers and available at the Michigan State Library and archives.
Kathy is survived by her husband: Jim Hendricks of Paradise; her children: Jeffrey (Kim Koistinen) Hendricks; of Clarkdale, Arizona; Eric Hendricks of Lafayette, Colorado: Molly (Daniel) Bacheler of Aurora, Colorado; and Elizabeth (Keegan) Schrider of Traverse City, Michigan. Also eight grandchildren: Madeline and Garrett Hendricks, Katherine, Emilia, and William Bacheler and Luke, Jean, and Levi Schrider. She is also survived by her five sisters: Margo (Randy) Bohres; Patricia (Bill) Aaron, Mary (Gary) Thomas, Norma (Alan) Chandler and Laure (Kevin) Fellows; and two brothers: John of Dearborn, Michigan and James of Tawas, Michigan; and numerous nieces, nephews and great nephews and nieces.
She was also preceded in death by her parents and her brother, Thomas McAlpine of Southfield.
Of Kathy’s many accomplishments, she primarily lived for two things: her children and grandchildren who loved her deeply, and her faith.
Visitation will be Thursday December 1, 2022 from 4:00pm until 6:00pm in the Mary Room at St. Mary’s Pro-Cathedral, 377 Maple St. Sault Ste. Marie, MI 49783. Visitation will also be Friday December 2, 2022 from 9:00am until the Mass of Christian Burial at 10:00am at St. Mary’s Pro-Cathedral with Father Sebastian Kavumkal officiating. Following the service procession will be family only to her final resting place Our Lady of Victory in Paradise, MI. The family requests in lieu of flowers memorial contributions be made in Kathleen’s name to Hospice of the EUP, 308 W. 12th Sault Ste. Marie, MI 49783, or St. Mary’s School, 377 Maple St. Sault Ste. Marie, MI 49783.
Clark Hovie Galer Funeral Home assisted the family with arrangements.
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kathy, you were such a joy to be friends with in high school. IWe wrote letters to each other while you were in the Peace Corps and I so enjoyed all of your adventures. Lately I loved our mutual Christmas cards and catching up with each other. Your writing was so eloquent. Soar with the angels, Kathy.