Catherine Kitty Mary Whitsel

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Sisters of St. Francis-Bogota Projects - Assisi Heights 1001 14th Street, NW, Suite 100, Rochester MN 55901. Catherine Mary 'Kitty' Whitsel, 96, formerly of O’Fallon, departed this life in Little Rock, Arkansas on Friday, January 21, 2005. She was born December 7, 1908, in O’Fallon, Missouri and lived most of her life there. She was the youngest of five daughters born to George and Elisabeth (Halter) Swinnen. She was preceded in death by her parents; her four older sisters, Freida Amsinger, Florence Mispagel, Isabelle O’Day and Marie Coffee; her husband of 51 years, Hadley George (Hap) Whitsel and son James Frederic Whitsel. She is survived by her daughter, Katherine Mary (George Dudley, Jr.) Swann, Jr., of Little Rock, Ark; grandson, Thad Justin “T.J.” Claggett, (Rachel) and their baby daughter, Alora Belle of Fayetteville, Ark; granddaughter Beth Alison Claggett Hall (Marcus) of Fayetteville, Ark; granddaughter, Julie Kay Swann of Tampa, Florida. As Hap would say to Kitty “I’ll make the living, you make the living worthwhile: and she did! She was a model Christian wife, mother and grandmother, who enjoyed quilting, gardening, fishing, dancing and was still playing the piano at age 96. She will be greatly missed.