Kathlene S. Rizzo was born November 18, 1953 at the Air Force base in Mountain Home, Idaho to Bonnie Springer and Gerald Schwab. Kathlene was a survivor from the first day she drew a breath. She was a twin, born at just a few pounds in the 50s. Her twin Christine lived only nine days before meeting her Creator. Kathlene was the oldest of six; four sisters and one brother. As a young person Kathlene grew up in New York in the Bronx, lived in New Jersey, and Connecticut with her family.  

Kathlene was 18 when she met her husband Kenny. She left him but kept his name, and traveled the country. Finding herself in a variety of places she found herself doing different jobs including bartending, pulling wire on a construction site, waitressing, and volunteering at homeless shelters and a domestic violence shelter. At age 28 Kathlene had her first and only child, Mara, in Visalia after moving closer to her family. Kathlene was a single mother, providing and supporting Mara on her own with chosen family and close friends. In 2000 Mara moved to Humboldt to go to college and two years later Kathlene left her life in Visalia to move to Humboldt, too. She lived in Eureka until she died at age 72 on August 9, 2026 from pancreatic cancer. 

Kathlene, who died with 37 years of sobriety from drugs and alcohol, spent her life in Humboldt taking care of those she could. She always had time and a bent ear for someone who needed to talk. She knitted hundreds of hats and handed them out to anyone who might ever be cold. In fact, if you are reading this,  you have likely received a hat, scarf, blanket, household item, pair of shoes from Kathlene. She loved to make people laugh, swore like a sailor, had tattoos and a kind eyes. She loved to read, loved listening to and watching the ocean,  and was a regular at coffee shops in Old Town for many years. She regularly took walks down by the bay. Despite many obstacles and difficulties with her health, she persevered with strength. She was a tremendous support to her daughter and taught Mara about being a self-reliant woman. 

Kathlene is preceded by her mother, Bonnie Schwab, and her father, Gerald Schwab.

Kathlene is survived by her daughter Mara and wife Cassie, and their children Augustus and Ezekiel, her very good friend Barbara who she shared more than three decades of friendship, her siblings Lynn Mathias (Delmer), Renee Nanna (Bo), Debbie Sparshott (Steve), Stacy, Jerry and many nieces and nephews. Kathlene’s family is very grateful to Palliative Care and Hospice of Humboldt for caring for Kathlene  in her final weeks.

A private celebration of life will be held in Humboldt. In honor of Kathlene, please consider making a donation to Humboldt Domestic Violence Services. The website to donate is https://www.hdvs.org/