Katherine Rice-Abbe

Katherine, Kat as she was known, went to be with Our Lord on Wednesday, February 16, 2011 after waging a courageous battle with cancer.
Kat was born in the coal mining town of Harlan, Kentucky on October 20, 1960. She was the daughter of Willie and Roxie Carroll and the youngest of 7 children. When Kat was 9 years old, her father moved the family north so the sons would not have to work in the coal mines. The family settled in the town of Papineau, Illinois, which is a small farming community located about 60 miles south of Chicago.

In 1979 Kat graduated from St. Anne High School in nearby St. Anne, Illinois becoming the first member of her family to obtain a high school diploma. In 1983 with her father suffering from black lung disease, Kat moved with her two young children to live with her parents in a small farmhouse outside of Gainesboro, Tennessee.

In effort to improve the quality of her children's lives and her own, Kat moved to Toledo, Ohio. She quickly made many friends in Toledo and a special friend helped Kat find employment in the endoscopy department of the former Mercy Hospital. The training that Kat obtained at Mercy Hospital led to an excellent career and employment with Northwest Ohio Gastroenterology Associates. Their kindness and devotion to Kat and to her family will always be remembered.

Kat is preceded in death by her father, Willie Carroll; brother-in-law, Jeff Stalnecker and sister-in-law, Felicia Carroll. Kat is survived by her loving husband, Gary Abbe, Jr.; daughter, Rebecca Lynn (Wayne) Cluckey of Toledo; son, Thomas Edward Merino II of St. Anne, Illinois; step-children, Zachary and Emily Abbe of Monroe, Michigan; six grandchildren who always had her total devotion, Logan, Lucas and Lauryn Cluckey, Courtney, Zoe and Blake Merino and one expected grandson due in April. Other survivors include her mother, Roxie Carroll of Gainesboro, Tennessee; brothers and sisters, Betty (Bruce) Salter, Robert (Joyce) Carroll, Steve (Tammy) Carroll, Reda Gatlin, Freda (James) Soisson, Noble (Brenda) Carroll and Melissa Stalnecker; many nieces, nephews and a host of family and friends.

The family will receive guests Saturday from 2:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. at Newcomer Funeral Home, 4150 W. Laskey Rd. (419-473-0300). Funeral Services will begin at 6:00 p.m. in the funeral home.

In lieu of flowers the family requests to please consider Hospice of Northwest Ohio.

The family would also like to extend their sincere thanks to the staff of Hospice of Northwest Ohio for the loving care that was provided to Kat and to her family.