Kathleen Nelson

Kathleen Ann “Kathy” Altosino Nelson

Loving Wife, Mom, Mother-in-Law, Nana, Gigi, Sister, Aunt, Great-Aunt, Dog Mom to fur babies and dear friend to many passed away on Tuesday, May 14, 2024, in Pittsburg, PA. She was 75 years old.
Kathy was born on January 20, 1949, in Melrose Park, Illinois to Marie Maggio-Altosino and James Francis Altosino. She was the second born in the family, after her brother Jimmy and was the eldest of three sisters to Patty and Kelly.

Kathy grew up in Melrose Park and was a graduate of Proviso West High School, in Hillside, Illinois. Kathy worked in the children’s section of the Melrose Park Public Library and was proud to work with a cousin whom she was mentored by. She met and married her only child’s father in 1967. After five years, they divorced and Kathy moved to Miami, Florida when Nick was one year old, to be close to her parents and sisters. She raised Nick by herself as a single mother. When Nick graduated from high school he joined the Army and reported to Fort Bragg, North Carolina.

When Kathy was living in Miami, she worked in the public relations and marketing industry for many years. Working full time, she managed to attend Miami-Dade College majoring in English Literature. Kathy became a woman business owner when she purchased a successful collection agency that she worked for when the opportunity was presented to her. Her mother Marie came on board as her Administrative Assistant. When Kathy had her business, she was a member of the South Florida chapter of Soroptimist International, a volunteer organization that provides women and girls with access to the education and training they need to achieve economic empowerment.
In 1997, Nick received orders for Fort Richardson in Alaska, so he packed up his family and invited Kathy to join them. She loved living in Alaska and being able to help with her grandson Nicholas and granddaughter Taylor, who was born there. She found a job at The Municipality of Anchorage that she really enjoyed. She lived there until April of 2001 before moving to Fayetteville, North Carolina due to new orders that Nick received to Fort Bragg.

It is in Fayetteville where Kathy met the love of her life, Robert Nelson. Robert, an Army and Desert Storm Veteran, was working on the Army base in Fayetteville when they met. They were introduced to each other by Kathy’s friend Renee Pack. After a brief time, they were married. Together, Kathy and Robert raised his four children.

Kathy’s most meaningful job that also instilled a passion for early childhood education was when she became the Lead Auditor of the Partnership for Children of Cumberland Country, North Carolina, a nonprofit organization whose mission is provide resources, support, and programs that Empower Families, Advances the Well-being of Children and Strengthens the Early Care and Education System in that community. Kathy was especially honored to be an integral part of the More at Four, a free Pk-4 program where she was instrumental in helping schools be compliant with financial reporting requirements for continued programming. She retired in 2005.

Kathy was an expert quilter. Her gorgeous quilts can be found in the homes and in the cribs of her loved ones. She also donated many quilts to those in need. During Covid, she immediately went to her sewing machine and made masks for the family and for people in her doctors’ offices and whoever else may have needed them when none were available. Kathy also created exquisitely embroidered and cross stitch art wall hangings, ornaments, pillows, and other home decorations. Kathy and Robert would often participate in craft shows as vendors selling their unique items. Robert’s woodworking items complimented Kathy’s country-inspired themed crafts. She often would listen to e-books while diligently creating something amazing for someone in her sewing room, better known as her happy place.

Kathy loved being in the kitchen and she could cook and bake anything to perfection. She especially loved to have family dinners at her home. In the past several years, Kathy started canning foods that she cooked and loved this new hobby.

She was an avid reader of romance novels and mysteries, and she loved country music, the mountains, her Italian heritage, but above all things, she loved her family, and she loved Robert with her heart and soul.
Kathy and Robert renewed their wedding vows in June of 2023, in an incredibly special ceremony to commemorate their 20th Wedding Anniversary. At the ceremony, grandson Nicholas and his wife, Bri also renewed their vows as their daughter- Kathy’s great-granddaughter, Aaliyah served as flower girl. Additionally, granddaughter Taylor and her husband Martin also renewed their vows as their daughter, Kathy’s great-granddaughter Isa, was also a flower girl. Kathy’s son Nick, an Ordained Minister was the officiant. This family event will be in the hearts and memories of the entire family.

Kathy and Robert moved to a new home in Natrona Heights, Pennsylvania in December of 2023. Robert is originally from the area and it is where his siblings currently live. In her short time there, she was very happy.
Kathy will be lovingly remembered by her family and friends, but she will live on in them.
Kathy is survived by her husband, Robert Nelson, her son Nick Quello and daughter-in-law Niccole, Stepchildren Crystalle Harmon, AJ Nelson and stepdaughter-in-law Lilian Nelson, Sabreena Tackett and Reminton Clifton.
Brother Jimmy Altosino, sister Kelly Altosino-Sastre, and her brother-in-law Aristides “Aro” Sastre. Predeceased sister, Patty Altosino. Brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Don and Rose Nelson, Brother-in-law Rick Nelson, Brother-in-law and Sister-in-law Way and Ilene Nelson, Sister-in-law and Brother-in-law Sandy and Dave Collins.
Grandchildren: Nicholas Quello and granddaughter-in-law Bri, Taylor Quello Serrano and grandson-in-law Martin, Step Grandchildren Baylee Crist and Angel Crist, Raymond Harmon, Sophia Harmon and Everly Woolford. Great Granddaughters: Aaliyah Quello and Isa Serrano

Nephews and Nieces and Grandniece and Grandnephews: Aris and Gia Sastre and their children Ari, Eli, and Caleb., Cameron and Lauren Sastre and their children James and Teddy, Stacci Sastre and JR Reed and their children Star Marie Reed and Jayce Reed. Matt, Tyler, and Ally Nelson, Ricky Nelson, Kristen Custis, Tre Nelson and Christina and Val Jean Collins.

Special Friends: Wendy Bell and Renee Pack

The ones we love are never gone from our hearts. They visit us in old stories. They meet us in our dreams. They show up in a song or maybe in a familiar face. They speak to us in moments of decision, in times when we know they’d be proud. They live on in the good things we do in the world and for each other. And they’re here to gently remind us every time we miss them…how much we were loved and always will be.

The family will have a private family interment at Greenwood Memorial Park, Lower Burrell, PA. Messages for the family may be left on Kathy’s Celebration of Life page. Services are provided by RJ Slater IV Funeral Home, New Kensington, PA.