Life Celebration for Kathleen Linda “Kathy” (Piontek) Bright, 71, who died Sunday, February 12, 2012 at The Terrace of Daytona Beach nursing home after a lengthy illness, will be 11:00 AM Friday, February 17 at Trinity Lutheran Church 485 Turnbull Bay Road New Smyrna Beach.
Kathy was born to Andrew J and Helen K (McManus) Piontek in Trenton, NJ, July 3, 1941. She received secondary education at schools of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Trenton and graduated from Cathedral High School in 1960. After attending Trenton State College (now New Jersey State University) for two years, she was employed by Bell Telephone of NJ. She continued college part time at Rutgers, The State of New Jersey in 1974, receiving a Bachelor of Arts in Studio Art in 1979. Kathy was awarded a Masters of Studio Art at New Rochelle College (New York) in 1984. She taught art in the Greenwich, CT public Schools at all grade levels from 1982 to 1995. She especially enjoyed introducing art to K through 5th grade students in various Greenwich Schools. Kathy pursued painting in oils, acrylics, water colors and charcoals all of her life.
Most of her art is impressionistic rather than representational art. Her purchased work is privately displayed in Connecticut, Florida, Illinois, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island and Tennessee. Kathy retired from teaching, moving to Florida in 1997. She continued painting, enjoying local beaches, singing in church and civic choirs, playing the piano. Listening to music and travelling. She was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church, Artists’ Workshop and student resident at Atlantic Center for the Arts.
Kathy met her husband Jack on a blind date in 1967. They were married in 1968. There are no children. Kathleen is survived by her husband John “Jack” Bright, a loving brother Andrew Piontek of New Smyrna Beach, maternal grandmother Elizabeth Umberger of Trenton, NJ, two paternal aunts Angela Piontek of Lawrenceville, NJ and Marion Talerico of Trenton and numerous cousins. Also, Kathy is survived by her sister-in-law Carole (Bright) Beitz and her family daughters Lynne Luettgen and Michelle Nagy, son Steven Beitz.
Memorial donations are requested to Trinity Lutheran Church 485 Turnbull Bay Road New Smyrna Beach FL 32168.
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