Kathleen "Cassie" Speten

Kathleen “Cassie” Speten, 77, of East Peoria, passed away at 1:35 p.m. Sunday, May 24th, 2015 at Heartland of Riverview in East Peoria. She was born on March 20, 1938 to Jermiah and Kate Fitzgerald Breen in Kilworth, County Cork, Ireland. She attended boarding school in England. In 1960 she immigrated to the states, and arrived in Chicago, IL. She married Harry Speten in New York City, NY on July 3, 1965. She was a devout parishioner of St. Monica’s Catholic Parish. She volunteered on the Sunday collection counter. She was a beloved wife, sister, mother and grandmother. She put her faith and trust in the Lord and that love was apparent to all who knew her. As they would say, “Everybody loved Dear Cassie”. She was proud of her Irish heritage and celebrated St. Patrick’s Day with her family with the traditions of Irish mass, the Irish parade and Irish festivities after the parade. She was a retired retail fine jewelry sales associate with 35 years of dedicated service from Venture (22 years) and Sears holding Corporation (13 years). She will be fondly remembered for her strong Irish accent and her jovial personality and friendliness towards her coworkers and customers. She always looked forward to attending the Sears retirement gatherings. She is survived by her husband, Harry of East Peoria, IL; four children, Kellyann Speten-Anderson of Peoria, IL, Derek Speten of Springfield, MO, Shane (Tami) Speten of Huntley, IL, Colleen Speten of Peoria, IL; two sisters, Patricia (Ian) Woodward of Palos Verdes Estates, CA, Shelia (Sean) Carroll of Kilworth, County Cork, Ireland; two brothers, Rev. Joss Breen of Churchlands, Western Australia, Diarmiud (Nora) Breen of Mallow, County Cork, Ireland; two sister-in-law’s, Ann Korzendorfer of Fargo, ND, Eily Breen of Kilworth, County Cork, Ireland; and eight grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents; sister, Maureen; brother-in-law, Bob Washatka; and two brothers, Paddy Breen and Baby Joss Breen. Memorial contributions may be made to St. Monica’s Catholic Church. Cassie’s Funeral Mass will be at 10 a.m. Thursday, May 28, 2015 at St. Monica’s Catholic Church in East Peoria. Visitation will be from 5 to 7 p.m. Wednesday at Deiters Funeral Home and Crematory in East Peoria, with further visitation 30 minutes before Mass on Thursday at the church. Burial will be at St. Mary’s Cemetery in Metamora.

Kathleen "Cassie" Speten

March 20, 1938 - May 24, 2015