Kathleen Mae Reichel

Kathleen Mae (Moran) Reichel, age 84, of Salem, Virginia passed away peacefully at Friendship Richfield Living the evening of April 7th, surrounded by her family.Born and raised in Schenectady, New York, to the late Paul F. and Virginia M. (Craw) Moran, Kathy was the oldest of 4 girls, raised in an Irish Catholic household, filled with the love of family and strong faith.Kathy graduated from St. Columba's High School and was a proud member of the St. Joseph's Hospital School of Nursing Class of 1963. While attending adjunct classes at Le Moyne College, she met Tony and they married in 1963. A lifelong learner, Kathy pursued continuing education and received her BSN from SUNY Utica-Rome in 1982.As a Registered Nurse, Kathy had a broad career. She was a staff nurse at St. Joseph's Hospital, had various positions in private practice, and was head nurse at Loretto Geriatric Center in Syracuse, New York in the 1970s. She treasured those years working with the elderly population. Prior to retirement in 2004, Kathy acted as a supervising nurse for the Tompkins County (New York) Health Department and as an administrative nurse for NOVA Home Healthcare in Sterling, Virginia.However, the job Kathy enjoyed most was being a mom and grandma. Even though Kathy was a full time, working mom, she was fully engaged in the lives of her children acting in such roles as Cub Scout Den Mother, Girl Scout Troop Leader, Band Booster and high school sports fan.Kathy and her sisters were very close; they loved celebrating holidays together and even considered Christmas a "5th season." They could never have too many Christmas ornaments or Christmas cookie recipes.Kathy could always be found reading or knitting; many of her friends and family will remember her as they hang one of her handknit Christmas stockings. She enjoyed cooking and baking and loved to entertain family and friends...particularly at Christmas.Kathy enjoyed travelling, found peace through flowers in her garden or watching the waves on vacation at the beach. A movie buff, Kathy's favorite movie was "Somewhere in Time," and it was a dream come true when she and Tony stayed at the Grand Hotel on Mackinac Island. Jigsaw puzzles and Sudoku were a fun challenge, and she thoroughly enjoyed playing cards and board games. Later in life, Kathy developed a passion for making stained-glass art.A true nurturer, she will be remembered for her kind and caring ways, laughter and fun spirit, generous nature, and unconditional love.She is survived by her devoted and caring husband of 62 years, Tony Reichel, as well as her children, Mark (Laura) Reichel and Mary Jo (David) Crewdson. Kathy is also survived by her sisters, Pat Lederman and Mary (Terry) Friello; her brother-in-law, Alan Beck; her three grandchildren, Ben Crewdson, Katie (Jay) Crewdson-Singh, and Alex Reichel, as well as many nieces, nephews, and dear friends. She was predeceased by her sister, Arlene Beck and brother-in-law, Paul Lederman.The family will receive friends and relatives from 2:00-4:00 pm on Sunday, April 12, 2026, at John M. Oakey & Son Funeral Home in Salem.A funeral mass will be held at 10:00 am on Monday, April 13th at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic Church in Salem.Feel free to wear a "splash of purple" in support of Alzheimer's Disease awareness, and in lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Alzheimer's Association in Kathy's honor: Alzheimer's Association Memorial DonationOnline condolences may be expressed to the family by visiting Kathleen Reichel (Moran) ObituaryAn additional visitation will take place on Thursday, April 16th from 10:00-11:00 am at the Goddard-Crandall-Shepardson Funeral Home, 3111 James St., Syracuse, New York. Interment will follow in Assumption Cemetery.Shepardson Funeral Home.