Mary Kathleen Rhodes (Kathy), 66, of Leonardtown, MD, passed away on March 12, 2024, at home with her family by her side after a courageous battle with ovarian cancer.

Kathy was born on April 26, 1957, in Leonardtown, MD, to the late George Kalnasy and Patricia Ann (Reithmeyer) Kalnasy.

Kathy was the second oldest of six children and a lifelong resident of St. Mary's County, Maryland. She attended Father Andrew White, S.J. School, and was a 1975 graduate of St. Mary's Academy. Shortly after graduation, Kathy started her career with the Internal Revenue Service in Washington, DC. Several years later, she transferred to the U.S. Department of the Navy at Patuxent River, MD, where Kathy remained until she retired as a Supervisory Human Resources Specialist in 2017. Kathy met and became lifelong friends with many co-workers, and even stayed in touch throughout her retirement. On May 21, 1982, she married John Taylor Rhodes in Leonardtown, MD. They were blessed with two daughters who gave them four grandchildren. Family was extremely important to Kathy and she was a proud wife, mother, grandmother, sister and aunt. Her grandchildren meant the world to her and she would call them every evening to check in and say goodnight. In her free time, she enjoyed restoring furniture and some of her favorite pieces were those she refinished for her grandchildren. She also enjoyed photography, especially when the subjects were her grandchildren, as well as annual vacations with her daughters and extended family. Kathy also served the community as a volunteer EMT with the Leonardtown Volunteer Rescue Squad for many years. She was a Past President and member of the Executive Board.

She is survived by her husband, John; daughters, Kelley Grace Bean (Sean) of Hollywood, MD, Emily Taylor Franklin of Leonardtown, MD; siblings, George Kalnasy, Jr. (Dolores) of Leonardtown, MD, Paul Kalnasy (Debbie) of Valley Lee, MD, Khriss Howard (Jimmy) of Tall Timbers, MD, Marta Bullis (Ritch) of Leonardtown, MD, Patty Dabbs (Jay) of St. Mary's City, MD; grandchildren, Madelyn, Sophia, Maci Ann, and Maxwell, and many nieces and nephews.

At Kathy's request, all services are private. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to: the Ovarian Cancer Research Alliance (ocrahope.org), or Hospice of St. Mary's, P.O. Box 625, Leonardtown, MD 20650.