Kathy Lynn (Keal) Bertalon

Tuesday, July 8, 2014

Kathy Lynn (Keal) Bertalon, 59, of Heritage Lake, passed away on Monday, July 7, 2014.

She was born on Oct. 24, 1954, in New Albany to John Allen and Anna Louise (Brasher) Keal. She was preceded in death by her parents and a nephew, Beau Burgess.

Kathy leaves to cherish her memory her husband of six years, Mark A. Bertalon of Heritage Lake; stepchildren Rachel Greer Gamble and husband Chad of Florida, Andrew Bertalon and wife Meredith and first grandchild on the way of Florida, Ashley Bertalon of New Jersey, Alexandra Bertalon of Indiana and Aimee Bertalon of Florida; brother Charles Seitz and wife Elaine of Terre Haute; and nieces and nephews Stephen Seitz and wife Eneicy and their son Ian, Susan Cobb and husband Jeffrey and their children, Brianna Burgess, Ethan Burgess, and Ryan Cobb and Stacy Mason and husband Travis and their children, Chloe, Caden, and Carly Mason; and her father and mother-in-law, Frank and Bernice Bertalon.

Kathy was reunited with her former sweetheart, Mark A. Bertalon, by chance at an airport. They instantly became inseparable and were married in March 2008. Together, they enjoyed playing golf and boating.

Kathy had a big heart for animals, and she doted on her rescue animals. She will be missed by her two dogs, Peaches and Scooter; and three cats, Peaches, Tiger, and Jelly Bean.

Kathy has touched many lives in her 40 year nursing career as she traversed the country. The operating room environment was her passion; the patient was her focus.

She began nursing in the clinical setting of the operating room and then progressed into management. From there, her path led her into many roles: sales and consulting, education, product development, FDA liaison, process improvement and supply chain management. Her achievements have been numerous, including president of her own company, Clinical Resources Inc.

Throughout her career Kathy continued her studies, and received dual-masters in nursing and health care administration in 2010. As well as being a noted speaker, she has numerous health care publications to her credit.

Kathy has been an active member of Association of Operating Room Nurses (AORN), Florida Council of Operating Room Nurses (FCORN) and a member of the Specialty Assembly Nurses in Business, Industry and Consulting (BIC).

Visitation will be held from 1 to 3 on Friday, July 11 at Roselawn Funeral Home in Terre Haute. Services will be held at 3 p.m. on Friday, at the funeral home, with Rev. Scott Johnson officiating.

In lieu of flowers, a scholarship has been established in her memory through AORN Foundation, 2170 S Parker Rd, Suite 400, Denver, CO 80231.

Donations may be also be made online at www.aorn.org/AORNFoundation/.