Despite being explicitly told not to, Kathy Kalina, our Mermaid Queen, died at home in Dublin, Texas on June 3, 2026.

Kathy was a voracious reader from the age of 5. While she lived many unexpected chapters in her years, she faced every twist and turn with her signature humor, courage, and generosity. She was known for her captivating storytelling. As a hospice nurse for decades, she found deep joy in walking patients and their families through their last stages of life. She was an author, a creative cook and baker and a quilter, among many other things. Her favorite thing she made in her life was her family (which she bragged that she created “from scratch”).
The biannual “Kalina Roundups” were the high points of her year, every year.
Her role as “Granlina” to Oliver, Vivian, Joseph and Franklin filled her with joy, and she loved to brag about them.
Kathy had a special capacity to love people exactly as they are, without pretense.

She is survived by her husband Ben Newton of Dublin Texas, her beloved children Josh Kalina (Melissa) of Centennial, Colorado, Kaitlin Kalina of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, Travis Kalina (Katherine) of Houston, Texas, and Alex Kalina of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, as well as her cherished “grands” Oliver Kalina, Vivian Kalina, Joseph Kalina and Franklin Kalina.
She is also survived by her siblings, many nieces, nephews, and friends.

To honor Kathy, we ask you to patronize your local library, eat a great meal, love the people in front of you - joyfully and without pretense, or light a candle in a nearby Catholic Church.

Please pray for Kathy and for everyone who loves her.

A Celebration of Life will be held Saturday, June 13, 2026, at St. Mary's Catholic Church at 10:00am.