Kathleen Hartung

Kathleen (Kathy) Hartung, age 75, of San Juan Capistrano, passed away peacefully with her family lovingly by her side on September 22, 2023 after health complications related to Alzheimer’s disease.

Kathy was born on May 21, 1948 to Louella and John Roddy in Santa Monica, California. Kathy is survived by her husband Jack, her son Jason and his wife Paddy, brother John and his wife Sabrina.

Kathy grew up in the Santa Monica area of Los Angeles County. She graduated from Venice High School and after graduation started attending college but instead became a flight attendant TWA. In 1971, Kathy met and married her husband Jack. Soon after, she stopped working for TWA when they moved to San Diego for a new employment opportunity for Jack.

In April of 1975 Kathy gave birth to their son Jason. While taking care of her family, Jack and Jason, she went back to college and earned a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology degree from San Diego State University and subsequently, after the family moved to San Jose, earned her Master of Arts in Sociology degree from San Jose State University.

Kathy and her family were able to live and explore different cities and sites in both Northern and Southern California, eventually settling down in the San Juan Capistrano area for the last 40 years. Kathy obtained her teaching credentials and taught part time for the Capistrano Unified School District. Kathy loved playing competitive tennis for local clubs in San Juan Capistrano. When free time availed itself, Kathy was planning family trips to Yosemite, Yellowstone, Hawaii and Mexico. After her son Jason graduated from high school and college, Kathy booked family trips to Europe, eastern and southern Africa, Egypt, Alaska, Australia, and Tahiti.

Kathy always had a wonderful time traveling but at her best with family and friends or just hanging out with the dogs.

Kathy, we thank you for being Jack’s wife and best friend. We also thank you for being the best mother you knew how to be for your son Jason.

For Kathy, being of Irish descendents, we offer to all an Irish Blessing: May the road rise to meet you. May the wind be always at your back. May the sun shine warm upon your face the rain fall soft upon your fields until we meet again may God hold you in the hollow of his hand. ☘️

A celebration of life with immediate family will be held at Dana Point Harbor with ashes scattered in the Pacific Ocean later this year.

In lieu of flowers, Kathy’s family and friends ask that donations be made to the following:

ESRA, English Springer Rescue America https://englishspringerrescueamerica3.wildapricot.org/Donate or

Alzheimer’s Association, https://www.alz.org/?form=alz_donate