Katherine Chesanow

Katherine (Mercier) Chesanow, 84, passed away peacefully, surrounded by family, on September 6, 2025. She lived in Norwalk, OH until moving to Florida 6 years ago to live with her daughter. Born in Albany, NY, she graduated from St. John's Academy in Rensselaer and started taking classes at Union University.

After marrying Daniel Chesanow, they moved to Pawling, NY, Columbus, OH and later settled in Norwalk, OH. Though she set aside college to raise a family, Katherine continued her education wherever life took her. In 1977, she proudly earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Biology from Ashland College, graduating with straight A's and making the Dean's List. Katherine was a lifelong learner, and for many years she looked forward to a full schedule of Elder College classes at the Firelands campus of Bowling Green State University. She remained an avid reader throughout her life and also enjoyed watching documentaries on a variety of subjects.

Katherine was a Research and Development Chemist at Brunswick Defense and an Industrial Lab Technician at Sandusky Limited. In her early Norwalk years, she led a project painting cheerful murals for the pediatric wing of Fisher Titus Hospital. Later, she volunteered at the Norwalk Library and with Erie MetroParks.

Katherine had a passion for good food. She had a massive collection of recipes and loved cooking and sharing food that was as delicious as it was healthy. Going to farmers markets and coming home with an assortment of fresh fruits and vegetables always made her happy. Thanksgiving was her favorite holiday, bringing together her favorite things... family, friends, and food. She reveled in the planning and preparation for a beautiful and tasty feast.

Exercise was also important to Katherine and she enjoyed a variety of activities. After graduating from college, she quit smoking and started running. Retirement gave her time to practice Tai Chi, join a weekly hiking group, do water aerobics at the local recreation center, and walk nearly every day, rain or shine. It was difficult leaving her friends and activities when she moved to Florida.

More than anything, Katherine loved her children with all her heart. Linda, Loren, and Marc will miss their Mom greatly. She is also survived by her siblings Alice Bardin, Ernie, Freddy, Timmy, Jimmy, Sue and Tom. She was predeceased by her parents, Ernest and Alice (Drevojan) Mercier, and sisters Eileen Francella, Patricia Panetta and Margie Casapello.

A perpetual fund has been established to assist low vision seniors who cannot afford the devices that make their life easier. Instead of flowers, the family suggests donations in Katherine's memory be made to the Savannah Center for Blind and Low Vision at 1141 Cornell Ave., Savannah, GA, 31406. Online donations can be made here:

https://donatenow.networkforgood.org/savannahcblv

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