Kathleen Taber-Pietron

**You may view the service from this link: https://youtu.be/RIRZB477AuA In celebration of the life of Kathleen Ann Taber Pietron, a loved and loving Mother, Grandmother, Sister, Daughter, and Friend. Kathleen’s legacy will be one that is cherished by many for being the quiet, unconditional giver who lived to serve her family and community. She is survived by her son and daughter in law, Chris and Andrea Taber, daughter and son in law Holly and Colin McRae, grandchildren Nash Taber and Katie McRae. Her Sisters, Sister-in-Law and brother Leah Pietron and Kim Mitchell, Colleen Ross, John Pietron, Christine and Bill Maragos, and niece, nephews and spouses: Nick Pietron, Christopher Pietron, Melissa Pietron, Michael Pietron, Stephanie Maragos and William Maragos. Kathleen was a soft-spoken woman, more comfortable in the background putting the pieces together rather than in the public eye for her accomplishments. She was always shy to take credit for her deeds and felt more comfortable letting others take ownership, but today we’re going to give her the spotlight. Born on January 20th, 1950 to Rosemond and John Arnold Pietron in Grand Forks, ND, she was the second of seven children born to the couple who had a farm outside of Larimore, ND. Born on cold January day she led the way with her twin Colleen coming shortly after. The two of them have been inseparable since birth with Colleen often referring to Kathleen as her “womb mate”. The children worked very hard on the farm assisting their father, but also enjoyed lazy afternoons in the shelterbelts behind the farmhouse in their play area they named “Hollywood”. Hollywood was a glorious place where the girls had placed nails in the trees and pretended they were buttons to fly their airplanes. Away they would travel together make believing they were far away surrounded by adventure and beauty. In memory of this precious time together, she named her daughter Holly. After graduating High School, Kathleen enjoyed several occupations including Café Owner where she met her future husband Roger Taber. After marriage, Kathleen had two beautiful children Christopher and Holly. Her children were her greatest joy in life and she stayed home to raise them with love and help Roger with his work. Her talents were many, but her favorite pastimes were cooking and sewing. As an amazing seamstress, she made the children’s clothing including beautiful patterns inspired by MC Hammer for her son and hot pink dresses for Holly. In her late thirties, she began making choices to empower herself and her children not only by loving them at home but also joining a program called Alcoholics Anonymous in Las Vegas, NV. It was here that she was given the tools to change her life and break the cycle of Alcoholism that had plagued the Pietron family for generations. Once acquiring sobriety, she joined the Blind Entrepreneurial Program where she began learning information of how to be a business owner. With the sobriety under her belt and the knowledge and confidence that she could own her own business even with her blindness, Kathleen decided to divorce her husband of 17 years Roger Taber. Accompanied by her daughter Holly, Kathleen took a brave leap of faith and moved into her sister Colleen’s living room. Colleen gracefully welcomed the family and Kathleen eagerly put the pieces back together by going back to College at Emily Griffiths Opportunity School for Culinary Arts and applying for public housing for herself and Holly. Conveniently located in downtown Denver, the new apartment was blocks from the bus route, York Street AA Club, and her sister Colleen. This was a time for rebirth and development as Kathleen worked very hard in counseling, school, AA and with her daughter to be the best example a woman can be of surviving and thriving no matter the situation or external circumstances. She would recall years later one of her favorite Christmases was when she lived there and the ladies at the Lutheran Church next door held a free shopping store for the children and parents to come and select gifts for their families. This was a time in our lives when charity was so needed and greatly appreciated and it is known she kept it in her heart forever. Kathleen led the precession at Emily Griffith Opportunity school and her life was catapulted into another dimension as she continued to work the program of AA, show up for her daughter and make steps to advance herself in the business world. She regained her membership to the Blind Entrepreneurial program and soon opened a Café in Lakewood, CO. It was near this café that our special angel Fritz Nobel, gifted Kathleen with her own condo. She vowed in gratitude that she would use the gift for her family, but also pay his graciousness forward by being an amazing mother and useful member of society which she accomplished ten fold. The years past and Kathleen’s success grew and then she made a decision to return home to North Dakota and begin a new chapter. She took employment at the University of North Dakota where she applied her creative cooking talents by updating their menus and providing the students a warm environment to call home. Her staff would often call her Mom and she knew several students by name. She was also involved in service in AA assisting women create new lives for themselves while achieving sobriety. In these selfless deeds she herself was able to stay sober and keep her promise to Fritz by helping others along the way. Both of her children graduated from High School and later college, got married and had children of their own. Kathleen retired from UND and began to travel a lot with her sisters to Mexico and to spoil her grand babies Katie and Nash. The days both Grand Children were born will never be forgotten as to witness her was a thing of beauty as the excitement, pride and joy were oozing from her being. Not only did she bring life to this world, but her children also carried on her amazing spirit as well into theirs. She will be forever loved and cherished as our family will honor her life and thankless deeds by carrying on her legacy to the next generation. We love you forever mom, God bless your spirit and thank you as we know our greatest gift was being loved by you. Her favorite musical artists were John Lennon, especially “Stand by Me”, Queen: Bohemian Rhapsody, Patsey Cline, The Carpenter’s and Annie Lennox. Her favorite advice she gave was: “To always let people be who they are and let it go.” “What other people think of you is none of your business, so just enjoy your life and don’t hurt others along the way.” “Give without expectations and love like no one’s watching” “Always be available to help another in need.” “Two for you and one for me” We will close with a prayer she cherished: God, I offer myself to Thee To build with me & to do with me as Thou wilt. Relieve me of the bondage of self, that I may better do Thy will. Take away my difficulties, that victory over them may bear witness to those I would help of Thy Power, Thy love & Thy way of life. May I do Thy will always. Lord, make me a channel of thy peace—that where there is hatred, I may bring love—that where there is wrong, I may bring the spirit of forgiveness—that where there is discord I may bring harmony—that where there is error, I may bring truth—that where there is doubt, I may bring faith—that where there is despair, I may bring hope—that where there are shadows, I may bring light—that where there is sadness, I may bring joy. Lord grant that I may seek to comfort that to be comforted--to understand than to be understood—to love, than to be loved. For it is by self-forgetting that one finds. It is by forgiving that one is forgiven. It is by dying that one awakens to eternal life. Amen