Kathryn L. Berger

On the morning of May 17, right before sunrise, Kathryn Laura Bussard Berger’s heart was laid to rest following a brief illness. Kate spent her last hours like she spent her life - surrounded by friends and family who loved her very much.

Kate had two older step-brothers, Frank and Jimmy Fulbrook, two younger brothers, Jesse and Walter Jr. Bussard, and two half-siblings, her favorite sister Gerry and her youngest brother Billy Fulbrook, all of whom loved and tormented her, some of whom were still doing a pretty good job picking on her up to the very end.

Kate was raised by Frank and Charlotte Fulbrook. Walter Bussard, the father of Kate, Walter Jr. and Jesse, passed away when Kate was four. One year later Frank Fulbrook met the young widow Charlotte Bussard and they were married soon after.

Moving from New Jersey, the family spent one year in the hills of Litchfield, PA and then settled in Nichols, NY where Frank ran a hardware store.

Kate attended Tioga Central High School, where she loved chemistry and math taught by her favorite teachers, Mr. Vanderlyke and Mr. Englebert. She was a graduate of the class of 1968. She sang in the chorus, joined the cheerleading squad, helped at the store, cooked and cleaned for her large family, and learned piano from Mrs. Mills. Mr. Vanderlyke, Mr. Englebert and Mrs. Mills each taught Kate’s daughters years later.

Following high school she married Ronald Berman and had her first daughter, River (Holly) Lynne Payne. Moving back to Nichols, she became a nurse and doted on her baby. Soon she met and married Gene Payne, and moved to Bumpville, PA. Together, they raised River, followed by Jenny Marie, Eleanor (Ellie) Ruth, Carrie Jeanne and Beth Elise. During these busy years Kate was a nurse at the Robert Packer Hospital, where she worked in the intensive care unit and the operating room.

Kate delighted in the world around her. She once brought home a cow’s heart to dissect with her girls. Many times she woke them in the night to go look at the stars or watch the northern lights. She took her girls berry picking, sometimes against their will. Full moons were slept under, holidays were celebrated, yearly beach vacations were mandatory, and picnics common.

Later in life, she was blessed to fall in love with widower Arnold “Huckle” Berger and become step-mother to his children, Michelle and BJ Berger.

Kate and Michelle developed a special bond, and Kate and Huck cared for Michelle’s children, Elijah, Shakei and Ka’Ron, like they were their own.

In the years that followed, Kate cared for Huck as he struggled and succumbed to ALS. She also cared for her mother Charlotte, who came to live with them.

All this time, Kate received daily visits, phone calls, messages and letters from her many children, siblings, nieces and nephews, family and friends near and far, including her 19 grandchildren, who all loved to tease her, play chess and scrabble with her, and fish in her pond.

When she passed away at the age of 74, she had recently become great-grandmother to two beautiful babies.

Her life was brimming, whether she liked it or not (and most days she did), with many people who loved her.

She loved what she loved dearly, and many a phone call was ended quickly so she could watch The X-Files or Star Trek, The Next Generation. She was fascinated by ancient Jewish and Christian history and UFOs and mysteries of all kinds. She also loved simple things, and she taught her children and grandchildren to love them too: a perfect Jersey tomato or peach, the work of a garden, hummingbirds, the stars. May she rest in peace. She earned it.

Special thanks to daughters Jenny, Ellie, Beth and Michelle and their husbands and children, who lived near her and helped her all they could, and to the staff of Aspect Physical Therapy, who strengthened and empowered her during these last years.

Family and friends are invited to attend a time of remembering the special gift Kate was to all of us, on Saturday, June 14th at 1 pm at her home. Memories and condolences may also be shared by visiting her guestbook at www.sutfinfuneralchapel.com In lieu of flowers memorials may be directed to Guthrie Hospice or your local chapter of ALS in memory of Kathryn L. Berger.