Obituary of Kathleen Ruotolo

Kathleen M. (Kathi) Ruotolo, of Lake Township, died peacefully on Monday, 11 July 2022, at the age of 77. At her side at the time of her passing were her loving husband and her two children. Kathi was born in Lodi, California, to Alpha Lee and Andrew Jackson Ledford, in 1944, and pursued her passion, cosmetology, immediately after graduating high school. She would eventually own and operate her own beauty salon in Dallas, Pennsylvania, where she was loved by a very loyal customer base. In 1968, fate presented itself when Kathi met a United States Marine, home from Viet Nam, who would very quickly become the love of her life. In 1970, Kathi married 1st Lieutenant Leonard J. Ruotolo, USMC, at Camp Hansen, Okinawa, and would relocate to Pennsylvania, soon afterward, where they would settle and raise a family. A loving mother and grandmother, and a friend to all she met, she enjoyed nothing more than spending time with family. Her pastimes included genealogy, cooking, gardening, playing the piano, family support activities for active duty military families and, of course, doing hair. Kathi was a woman of strong faith and was a parishioner of Our Lady of Victory Church at Harvey's Lake. Preceded in death by her mother, father and two brothers, she is survived by her husband, Len, her son, Joseph, her daughter, Susan, and three grandchildren, Peter, Anna and Jordan. The Ruotolo family wishes to thank the exceptional care team at Geisinger Hospital, Wilkes-Barre, for the very gentle, caring and professional manner in which they oversaw Kathi's final days. She was deeply loved and is sorely missed. In lieu of flowers, those wishing to honor her are asked to make a donation to the Myasthenia Gravis Foundation of America, 290 Turnpike Rd, Suite 5-315, Westborough, MA 01581. A small memorial service for family is being planned and details will be published separately. Arrangements are by the Curtis L. Swanson Funeral Home, Inc., corner of routes 29 and 118, Pikes Creek.