#KATHYSTRONG

ABOUT #KATHYSTRONG

#KATHYSTRONG is a way of life, a way of channeling your inner strength to overcome any obstacle that seems insurmountable. Kathy was stricken at the young age of 47 with a very rare and aggressive cancer called Histocytosis, that had mutated from her Chronic Leukemia Lymphoma cancer which she had been diagnosed with 2 years earlier. After a hard fought and painful 4 month battle with this monster disease, she was taken from us entirely too soon leaving behind her husband, Marshall, and two young children, James and Carolina.

But Kathy battled her cancers with tenacity and an unwavering strength, and even those that knew her best never were aware of the pain and suffering that this dreaded disease was causing. That was Kathy… that IS KATHYSTRONG. Up until her last moments on this earth, she fought. She fought for life, she fought to survive, she fought for her family… she fought. And that is the strength that she leaves behind for us all to internalize and call upon during the most difficult and challenging of circumstances. As that was when Kathy was her strongest.

Kathy’s Obituary 7/3/2024

Kathleen (Kathy) Martha Tilden left this world at the young age of 47 after a hard-fought battle with an extremely rare combination of cancers. Kathy was loved by all. She was a shining light of joy and inspiration, and the embodiment of strength to all who knew her. And she was funny. So so funny.

Born on February 11, 1977 in Jackson Heights, NY to Laszlo and Martha Nemeth, Kathy attended Our Lady of Fatima elementary school and graduated from Bryant High School. The friendships she formed in Jackson Heights lasted throughout her life.  

Kathy was born at the Physician’s Hospital. The building was later turned into a school, so perhaps it was predestined that she went into the education field and worked as a Speech and Language Pathologist for the NYC Department of Education for almost 25 years. 

Kathy met the love of her life, Marshall, in NYC in 2003 while she was working on her graduate degree. They were married on February 16, 2008, and two years later they welcomed their first child, James. Their daughter Carolina was born two years after that, and their beautiful family was complete.

Kathy was a loving and devoted mother to James and Carolina, whom she loved more than anything in the world. She was a dedicated baseball and softball mom, and rarely missed an opportunity to watch her children’s games. She volunteered in many of their activities. Even at the end of her life, through her pain, her number one priority was showing up for her children’s events.

Kathy was also known for being an athlete. She had a passion for running and fitness, competing in over 20 half marathons and the NYC Marathon in 2016. Her passion for running inspired her to help organize the local Mount Kisco 5K with her running crew, the “Bad Mother Runners.” She was also a true animal lover and was rarely seen without a foster dog, as she and her family were heavily involved in the dog rescue community.

Kathy’s greatest joy was spending time with family, be it sleepovers with her nieces and nephews, whom she adored, or holiday get-togethers. Kathy enjoyed hosting holidays and having a “full house.” 

Kathy was a selfless and giving person. She put others before herself. She embodied strength and determination, and inspired everyone around her. Kathy’s strength, compassion and sense of humor will be remembered by everyone who knew her. 

The rare combination of her two forms of cancer made Kathy joke that she was “one in a million.” In truth, she was more than that! She was the kind of person that comes along once in a lifetime, and she will live on in the memories of the people who were fortunate enough to have had her in their lives.

Kathy is survived by her loving husband of 16 years, Marshall; her children James and Carolina; her parents Laszlo and Martha; her sisters Maria and Judy; her brothers-in law George and Alex; her father-in-law and mother-in-law Marshall and Josette; her brother-in-law and sister-in-law Craig and Alexa; and her many nieces and nephews: Lauren, George, Nate, Lucas, Ava, Kirsten, Craig, and Jesse.