Kay Bion Kulfinski

April 18, 1936 - May 5, 2022

Kay Bion Kulfinski, age 86, of Edwardsville, Illinois, passed away on Thursday, May 5, 2022, at her residence. She was born April 18, 1936, in Washington, DC, the daughter of the late Joseph Bion & Doris (Heron) Philipson. She married Frank B. Kulfinski on September 15, 1956, in Ames, Iowa. Frank preceded her in death on December 11, 2004, and she was preceded in death by both parents, her brother Joseph Bion Philipson, Jr., and sister Jean Philipson. Kay is survived by three daughters, Jeannine Myer of Edwardsville, Doris Moodey & husband LeRoy Valentine Moodey of Edwardsville, Kyra Neighbors of Bargersville, Indiana; five grandchildren, Amanda (Ryan) Brewer, Rachel Myer, Lynsie, Kristie, & Katie Neighbors; three great grandchildren, Adalynn, Francis, & Vincent Brewer; one brother James Philipson; & two sisters, Jane Patrick & Anne Scherrer. Kay received her BS in Business Administration from Illinois Wesleyan in 1968, and MS from SIUE in Education in 1974 and in Business Education in 1980. She was an instructor at SIUE and Parks College at St. Louis University prior to opening her own accounting business, Kay Kulfinski CPA, in Edwardsville in 1985, where she was renowned for assisting students and others during tax season. Kay was a devoted member of the St. John’s United Methodist Church in Edwardsville since 1969 and a big fan of the SIUE gardens, which Frank started, the St. Louis Zoo and the Missouri Botanical Gardens, attending nearly every corpse flower bloom for the last 10 years. Kay knit endless scarves and hats to support the Salvation Army and Winter Patrol missions at St. John’s. Her love of music was eclectic and lifelong, getting her first radio melted when she insisted on listening to opera in her dorm on Saturdays and Grand Ole Opry Saturday evenings. Undaunted, she bought her family subscription tickets to the St. Louis Symphony in her later years, and attended rehearsals of the SIUE Community Choral Society, the 60’s chicks, and the First Presbyterian bell choir as well as the St John’s Chancel Choir. Music combined with her love of travel, sending her to Cuba with SIUE choir members. She climbed the Acropolis at the age of 78 and visited Poland a year later, having seen much of the USA and Canada during her younger years. Kay also had a lifelong love of Girl Scouting, whether camping, setting up camp for summer campers, or leading a Senior troop. She will also be missed by her beloved cat, Tiger, as she joins Koko and Echo, her beloved bicolored cats. She was cremated according to her wishes and a celebration of life will be held at St. John’s Church on June 25, 2022, including a visitation at 10 am and service at 11 am. The family requests memorials to St. John’s United Methodist Church in care of Weber & Rodney Funeral Home. Condolences