Kathryn Mary "Kay" Dickens (Roisum)

WAUNAKEE - Kathryn Mary “Kay” (Roisum) Dickens, age 67, passed away on Saturday, Nov. 13, 2021. Kay was born on Feb. 28, 1954, in Madison, Wis., the oldest daughter of Margaret (O’Neill) Roisum and the late Roger Roisum.

Kay, a graduate of LaFollette High School (1972), attended UW-Whitewater, UW-Madison, and Madison Area Technical College (1977) where she obtained a degree in commercial art. Among a variety of occupations over the years, foremost was that of mother and homemaker, and Kay’s jobs outside the home always gave her opportunities to use and share her great artistic talents.

Kay married her best friend, Dell Dickens, on Sept. 3, 1977. Her cherished joys were her children, Patrick and Stefanie, and her greatest pleasures were supporting them in their endeavors. She loved her family time more than anything, and she showed her dedication by doing everything from creating artwork for school and church, sewing theatre costumes, cheering at softball, volleyball, baseball and hockey games, chaperoning every field trip, coaching softball, leading Brownies, and altering what amounted to hundreds of marching band uniforms over the years.

Besides Kay’s children and grandkids, her other loves were popcorn on Sunday nights while watching John Wayne movies and other classic films, baking favorite recipes, sewing and cross-stitch, Hallmark movies, playing softball, bike rides, attending Broadway musicals, dancing, a strong cup of black coffee, phone calls with her sisters, Badgers hockey games with close friends, live music concerts, gardening, mowing the lawn, long walks, decorating for and celebrating Christmas, and enjoying a variety of travel adventures with Dell.

Kay’s final accomplishment was her courageous battle with Posterior Cortical Atrophy, a rare type of younger-onset Alzheimer’s Disease. After bravely receiving the diagnosis on her 59th birthday, she fought against the ravages of the disease for nearly nine years, never wanting to give up or admit defeat. PCA first stole Kay’s sight and eventually her mind, but her heart and soul knew her family to the bitter end, and she drew peace from them even in her final breaths. The family wishes all to remember Kay‒not for the disease that robbed us of her‒but rather for Kay’s compassion, kindness, generosity of spirit, witty humor, artistic talents, and capacity for unconditional love.

Kay is survived by her husband of 44 years, Dell Dickens; her son, Patrick Dickens; and daughter, Stefanie (Christopher) O’Keefe; grandchildren Elsa, Gwynne and Campbell Dickens and Harvey O’Keefe.

She is also survived by her mother, Margaret Roisum; brothers, Randall (Nancy), Ralph (Susie), Eric (Sheila) and Joseph (Kara) Roisum; sisters, Marie (Gene) Ackerman and Lois (Walter) Kunicki; sister-in-law, Patricia (Gardner) Roisum; and brother-in-law, Shawn Murphy; and a countless number of adored nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her father, Roger Roisum; sister, Janice (Roisum) Murphy; brothers, Dennis and Stephen Roisum; and sister-in-law, Christine (O’Neil) Roisum.

The family would like to thank the caring souls of Agrace HospiceCare who were a part of our lives for nearly four years, especially Joanna Anderson, Kristen Alderson, Melanie Brooks and Dawn Ban; along with our friends at the Alzheimer’s Association. Special heartfelt thanks to fellow caregiver, Patti Buelo, without whose support and friendship we could never have survived nor kept Kay at home with us for all these years.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made in honor of Kay to Agrace HospiceCare or the Alzheimer’s Association Wisconsin Chapter.  

A Funeral Mass will be held at ST. DENNIS CATHOLIC CHURCH, 505 Dempsey Road, Madison, at 11 a.m. on Friday, Dec. 10, 2021. Visitation will be held at the church from 10 a.m. until the time of the Mass on Friday, Dec. 10, 2021. Family and friends who wish to view services via LIVE STREAM may visit Kay's obituary page at www.gundersonfh.com. and click on the Live Webcast link at 11 a.m. on Friday.

When you are faced with conflict or adversity, Kay would want you to hear her words in your head, “Kill ‘em with kindness.” You have ongoing permission to giggle along with her when you hear the jewelry commercial jingle, “Every kiss begins with KAY.” And if you struggle to eat your vegetables, try Kay’s favorite, candy corn. Online condolences may be made at www.gundersonfh.com

Gunderson East

Funeral & Cremation Care

5203 Monona Drive

(608) 221-5420