Obituary of Kathleen Grace Rusch

KATHLEEN GRACE RUSCH Maryland- Kathleen Grace Rusch, 25, passed into eternal life on June 25, 2016. Our Katie will be remembered for her love for life, sense of humor and smile, and for her God-given intrinsic ability and spirit to create art. From an early age she loved everything pertaining to the arts, especially painting portraits, but her real passion was conceptualizing and building intricate ceramic vessels and sculptures. She was a recent graduate of Maryland Institute College of Art where she earned a Bachelor's Degree in Fine Arts. Upon graduation, she was selected and completed an Assistant Teaching Fellowship in Ceramics at Penland School of Crafts in North Carolina. At the time of her death, she was busy expanding her portfolio and preparing to apply to Alfred College of Ceramics Graduate program starting in the fall of 2017. She was also in discussion to exhibit her art at the Jordan Faye Contemporary in Baltimore. During her brief life, she excelled at distance running (three years on Shenendehowa Varsity XC and track teams), enjoyed going on long hikes in the High Peaks with her Dad, and going on long runs with her sister. Katie loved animals. She also loved to cook and bake, and really shined when it came to learning new culinary skills and the latest in nutrition from her Mom and Gramma Grace. Katie was very knowledgeable about everything related to coffee beans, and worked as a barista summers and during college at restaurants such as Woodberry Kitchen (Baltimore), Uncommon Grounds (Saratoga), and Lucas Confectionary (Troy). She was predeceased by her grandfather Lawrence J. Rusch and her grandparents Hugo and Grace Pelleschi. She is survived by her parents Lawrence F. and Julie Rusch, a younger sister Caroline, a grandmother Katherine Rusch, and many aunts, uncles, and cousins. She also leaves behind her beloved cats: Gandalf and Carmel. Katie will be greatly missed by all who knew and loved her. Katie's Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Friday July 1, 2016 at 10:00 am at St. John the Evangelist Church, 812 Union St, Schenectady. In lieu of flowers memorial contributions can be made in Katie's memory to the Mohawk-Hudson Humane Society, 3 Oakland Ave., Menands, NY 12204 Interment will take place in Most Holy Redeemer Cemetery, Niskayuna. For information, to light a memory candle or order flowers for the family please visit www.dufrenseandcavanaugh.com.