KATHLEEN TOTTER

Kathleen Totter, aka Kathleen Totter-Sheldon, age 89, passed away on March 2, 2020, on Medina, OH. She was born January 2, 1931, in Braddock, Pennsylvania to the late Aloysius and Katherine (née Radokovich) Totter.

Kathleen was a graduate of Eaton High School, and attended Kent State University, attaining an undergraduate degree in the arts and a master’s degree in the fine arts (ceramics). She was a member of Alpha Chi Omega sorority. Kathleen honed her artistic skills when she traveled to Japan where she studied ceramics under a master potter in the Raku style. Her love of the arts touched many people, including her students at North Olmsted High School where she taught for over thirty years. Many of her students returned to see her long after graduating from college.

She also taught classes at the Cleveland Institute of Art and was a frequent artist at Medina Art in the Park and Boston Mills Artfest, where she displayed her Raku pottery and hand-made paper pieces. Her art was exhibited in many galleries, including the Cleveland Museum of Art and Columbus Gallery of Art. Kathleen's artwork can be found in numerous homes throughout the country. She was a member of Ohio Designer Craftsmen and the North Eastern Ohio Education Association. Kathleen loved dancing, travel, cooking, and golf. Her artistic flair was often reflected in the stylish clothing she loved to wear for special occasions.

Kathleen was a devoted and loving mother to her three sons, Douglas (Susan), Darrell (Colleen) and David (Elizabeth) Sheldon. In addition to her children, she is survived by her sister Diana (Larry) Walburn of Grand Haven, MI, her nine grandchildren, Raul, Orin, Samantha, Sasha, Tate, Noah, Alexandra, Nicholas and Jessica, as well as cousins June Totter DePhillips and Barbara Jean (Redockovic) and husband Brian Osborn. She was preceded by her parents, and her husband, Arthur Sheldon.

Friends may join the family for visitation on Sunday, March 8, 2020, from 1:00 PM to 3:00 PM at Carlson Funeral Homes & Cremation Services, 3477 Medina Road, Medina, OH 44256. A Funeral Service will follow at 3:00 PM. Fr. Stephen Dohner, officiating. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Kathleen’s name to Alzheimer's Association, 225 N. Michigan Ave., Fl. 17, Chicago, IL 60601 and the Medina Hospice of the Western Reserve, 17876 St. Clair Avenue, Cleveland, Ohio 44110.