Kathryn Mary Ayala-Kallas, 66, departed this earthly world on Monday, January 12th 2026. She passed peacefully at home while surrounded by family and friends whom she loved dearly.

Kathy, born March 2, 1959, grew up in Highland, IN and met life-long friends while attending Our Lady of Grace and graduating from Bishop Noll Institute in the class of 1977. Kathy's greatest characteristic is how much she prioritized helping those around her. She graduated from Purdue Calumet's Nursing program in 1991, and went on to give the highest quality care to countless pairs of mothers and newborns, and often guided a doctor's eye to life-saving realizations. 

While working in Community Hospital's neonatal unit, Kathy met the love of her life, Lawrence. After falling for his Cal City charm, Kathy and Larry were married in 1991 and raised 2 beautiful children together. The core pillars Kathy instilled as the foundation of her family are faith in the Lord, a willingness to help others, an appreciation of good food and music, and the love of Notre Dame football. Among her many descriptors, Kathy was a passionate home cook and gardener, and Kathy never saw an arts & crafts project that she could pass up. Her homemade meals she never had a recipe for and her creative spark will be dearly missed by those close to her.

As her days on God's Earth grew smaller, she made abundantly clear what was already known - she was so proud of the man and woman she and Larry had raised - and that is a testament to the sacrifices she made her entire life for her family. Kathy always put others first. For Kathy, helping others was secondary only to breathing. She was the ultimate caregiver.

Kathy is preceded in death by her loving parents Peter and Dorothy Ayala, and is survived by her loving husband Lawrence of 34 years, and their two children Michael and Elena.

The family has scheduled a viewing for Kathy at Castle Hill Funeral Home: 1219 Sheffield Avenue, Dyer, IN 46311 (across from the old Walts) on Friday January 16th from 5:00 - 8:00 PM and Saturday, January 17, 2026 beginning at 9:00 AM at the Carmelite Fathers Monastery in Munster, IN followed by a 10:00 AM Mass of Christian Burial.

Kathy will be laid to rest at Holy Cross Cemetery in Calumet City, IL.