Kathleen Duesing Rossell:  

The following is: "Kathi's Story" by her for your "enjoyment" OR "THE STORY OF KATHLEEN" "Time Flies When You're Having Fun!" by KATHLEEN I've been delaying the writing of my profile (I am calling it "Kathi's Story". I'm not sure where to start or what is of interest to others. So, guess the best thing to do at 50 years since graduating from Elgin High School, Elgin, IL, is just to do! So, here I go ....... Time has flown by while my life has been filed with a career and being happily married (3rd times a charm) After graduating from EHS, I spent time trying to figure out what I wanted to do and enjoying the freedoms of ECC, working at Sherman Hospital part-time, exploring the options of events available to me that I hadn't thought of before. I was fortunate to be given the freedom of using my parents car as I wanted/needed. A major goal in my life was achieving a major goal of loosing over 70 lbs. resulting in new life experiences: dating, enjoying shopping for new clothes, having people wanting to be my friend, feeling good about myself, and simply being a young lady with doors open and memories to be made. I graduated from ECC in 1966 with honors and being on the Dean's list. Going away to college wasn't an option for me due to lack of funding and motivation to do so. I was happy, my career in business was expanding, and my personal life was exciting and fulfilling. I was thrived being independent, respected in my positions at Sherman Hospital, Shakeproof, Allstate Insurance, and the Chateau Louise Resort and Conference Center in Dundee, IL. The position at the Chateau grew into a career that I treasured. It was a new and exciting; fulfilling me through its growth, position responsibilities, experiences, and salary through my 2009 retirement. My initial position at the Chateau Louise was as secretary to the Catering Director. When my responsibilities grew; I was promoted to Executive Assistant to the General Manager of the hotel. I learned that there was life outside of the Fox River Valley that would be challenging and rewarding. After several years at the Chateau, I was fortunate to become the Director of Sales and Catering at the Hillside Holiday Inn. Again, this lead to growth and knowledge of the hospitality industry and personal life experiences. While I was enjoying my career, my professional and personal life was filled with new people, places and things. I had moved into my own apartment, dating was exciting, and I became a bride in August of 1966 to a guy I met at Sherman Hospital. He was a laboratory technician. His name was Bradley Blood, thus I became Kathi Blood. Our apt. was in a house just a block from Sherman. Well, that would be the Sherman Hospital on Center Street in the historical part of Elgin, not the new west side site.That marriage lasted less than 4 years, leaving me the strength to grow personally and professionally. On December 12, 1969, I was happy walking down the aisle, becoming the bride of Jon Holtz, a friend of my brother's and another Elginite. Jon is the brother of Mary Holtz; a member of my EHS '64 class. That marriage was briefly happy ending in divorce. Really enjoying the hotel business, I fortunately become a Sales Manager for the Hillside Holiday Inn in Hillside Illinois. I thrived on networking with customs, learned skills to giving me qualifications to become the Director of Sales and Catering. for the Holiday Inn. I enjoyed that position for several years before moving to Red Bank, New Jersey, to live with a new "love of my life", Robert Kelleher. I had never lived away from Elgin/Chicago area, so this "adventure" was filled with many new challenges. returning to Chicago after less than a year. My relationship with Mr. Kelleher continued only briefly. 1981 was the arrival of Michael Rossell into my life, with my becoming the owner of a condo at Outer Drive East on Lake Shore Drive, Chicago. Michael was already a owner of a 2 bedroom condo at Outer Drive East. Mike and I met through mutual friends in the building...Expand for more