Kathleen E. (Kirke) Cardina

Kathleen E. Cardina (nee Kirke), died peacefully on Friday, October 8, 2021, at the age of 98, from complications of Alzheimer’s.

She was preceded in death by her husband Frank D. Cardina, parents William J. and Kathryn Kirke, sister Mary Sturgeon, and niece Wilma Hagan.

Kathleen was born and raised in Akron. She graduated from South High School in 1942. As a young woman, Kathleen worked in her family’s business, Kirke’s Flower Shoppe. Her love of flowers continued with her own “porch boxes,” which garnered compliments from neighbors and strangers alike.

Kathleen enjoyed the simple things in life, like her morning coffee. She looked forward to the annual blooming of the snowdrops in her backyard and to pointing out “green sidewalk day” to her grandchildren, whom she adored.

Kathleen is survived by her adult children, William J. (Beth) Cardina, Martha (Douglas) Shaw, and Mary (Robert) Glass; grandchildren Will and Isabella Cardina, Robby, Daniel (Chelsea), and Kevin Glass; Kathryn (Andy) Tarries; and one great grandson, Gabriel Tarries.

Kathleen was a longtime parishioner of St. Sebastian Church for over 80 years. Kathleen and Frank were married by Monsignor Zwisler and their Catholicism was important to them both.

A Mass of Christian Burial will take place on Saturday, October 16, 2021 at 11:00 AM at St. Sebastian Parish, 476 Mull Ave., Akron, OH 44320. Friends may call from 4:00 PM – 7:00 PM on Friday, October 15, 2021 at the Billow FAIRLAWN Chapel, 85 N. Miller Rd., Fairlawn, OH 44333.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to St. Sebastian Parish or the Alzheimer’s Association, www.alz.org .

“Death leaves a memory no one can heal. Love leaves a memory no one can steal.”

Services in care of The Billow Funeral Homes and Crematory, 85 N. Miller Road, Akron, OH  44333