Beloved wife, mother, grandmother, sister and friend, Kathleen Harty passed away peacefully on July 10, 2020, in Corona del Mar, CA, surrounded by her adoring children. She was 76.

Kathleen was born on December 4, 1943, in Omaha, Nebraska and was the second of five daughters born to Thomas A. Walsh, Jr., and Marjorie Hall Walsh Witherspoon. She graduated in 1961 from Duchesne Academy of the Sacred Heart, in Omaha, Nebraska, and received a Bachelor of Arts in English in 1965 from Saint Mary's College, in Notre Dame, Indiana.

Her love story with her husband, John Richard Harty, Sr. is family legend. She met John, as a 17-year-old freshman at Saint Mary's, when she accidentally rode her bike into him on the sidewalk outside of Notre Dame's Sorin Hall. John quickly found out who the gorgeous blonde was and arranged a date.After that, they were inseparable. Kathleen graduated a semester early so she could marry John on April 24, 1965, and they remained devoted to each other throughout their 49-year marriage.

John's career took Kathleen to Ohio, Michigan, the Netherlands, Oklahoma, California, Illinois and back to California. Since 1980, she and her family lived in Laguna Beach, Newport Coast and Corona del Mar. Kathleen was a mother to four wonderful children—two of whom are twins—and was an accomplished chef, pianist, tennis player, grammarian, and a voracious reader. She was very proud of her children and very proud to have had twins. Throughout her life, with her unerring sense of style, taste and grace, Kathleen was inevitably the most stunning woman in any room.

Kathleen was also passionate, loyal and fierce about the people she loved. As a young mother in Tulsa, OK, Kathleen didn't wait for the police, but rather made a citizen's arrest of a neighbor she thought had threatened her child. She was a devout Catholic who taught religious education classes at St. Catherine's School, and Kathleen gifted her Catholic faith to her children and grandchildren. Kathleen loved children (especially her grandchildren) and animals, including dogs, horses and elephants. Although she loved California, and especially loved her many Southern California friends, she never failed to cheer on her Fighting Irish when they played the Trojans in the Coliseum.

Kathleen believed your life was what you made of it and the possibilities were limitless. She woke up every day of her life determined to make it a "happy day" for herself and her family. And when times were tough, it was Kathleen's sheer force of will that continued to create those happy days for her family. Kathleen created a lifetime of happy days.

She is preceded in death by her beloved husband, John R. Harty, Sr., sisters Mary Walsh Green (Kansas City, MO), and Melanie Walsh Flannery (Glenview, IL), and her parents.

She is survived by four children, Mary Colleen Harty Taricani (Joseph) of Newport Beach, CA; John Richard Harty, Jr. of Newport Beach, CA; Kevin Walsh Harty (Jaclyn) of Carlsbad, CA; and Margaret "Meg" Harty Tennant (Mike) of Northbrook, IL.

She is survived by her ten cherished grandchildren, ranging in age from 17 years to 2 weeks, who lovingly called her "Tootsie" as follows: John (Jack) Michael Harty (17); Joseph (Joey) Francis Taricani, III (16); Cameron (Cam) Thomas Harty (15); Catherine (Kate) Maria Taricani (14); Kathleen (Katie) Patricia Tennant (6); Everly Grace Harty (5); Connor Michael Tennant (4); Campbell Aniela Harty (3); Eilis Jane Harty (1); and Caroline Margaret Tennant (8 days old).

She is survived by two sisters: Colleen Walsh Warin (Omaha, NE), and Maureen Walsh Brown (Sun Valley, ID). She is also survived by fourteen nieces and nephews.


Due to COVID-19, there will be a family Mass at St. Catherine of Siena Catholic Church in Laguna Beach, CA when permitted. A larger Celebration of Life will follow at the appropriate time.