She ran Driscoll's Help-A-Thon for 13 years

When Kathy Jarosz was diagnosed with colon cancer in 1999, doctors told her she had about two years to live.

She didn't complain or shut down. There was simply too much to do.

Mrs. Jarosz went right on raising her four kids and working at Driscoll Catholic High School in Addison, organizing the annual Help-A-Thon, the school's major annual fundraiser.

"My mom was always more concerned about how we were doing," said Keith Jarosz, her oldest son. "Most people had no idea she was sick."

About two months ago, the cancer returned with a vengeance and took over Mrs. Jarosz's body. She passed away on Friday. Her funeral Mass will be 10 a.m. today at St. Philip the Apostle Church in Addison, with prayers before the service at 9 a.m. at Salerno's Rosedale Chapels, 450 W. Lake St. in Roselle. Interment will be in Assumption Cemetery.

Mrs. Jarosz is survived by her husband, Richard P., and her children, Keith (Effie), 31, Christopher, 29, Matthew, 24 and Kimberly Jarosz, 20. She is also survived by her granddaughter Jossalyn.

Mrs. Jarosz, 58, was born in Germany on March 6, 1950, and emigrated with her family to Chicago when she was 8 years old. After graduating from Good Counsel High School in Chicago, she attended the University of Illinois where she met her husband Richard. Kathy and Richard celebrated their 36th wedding anniversary on July 8 and have lived in Addison for almost 30 years, Keith said.

For the past 13 years, Mrs. Jarosz was a secretary in Driscoll's athletic department and the director of the school's Help-A-Thon.

The annual event sent hundreds of students, staff and parents to more than 30 organizations like Spring Brook Nature Center in Itasca or Little Sisters of the Poor at St. Joseph's Home in Palatine to do jobs such as cleaning wheelchairs, pulling weeds, or working at schools.

It was a massive undertaking, said Mary Link, Driscoll's director of development.

"I don't know how she did it," Link said. "And the whole time, she was like everyone's mom. She looked out for everyone."

And she worked hard even when she was sick.

"About six week ago ­- right before she went to back into the hospital - Kathy was sewing some patches on some coats and I said 'Let me help you,'" Link said. "That was the first time she let me help her. Before she would always say 'Don't worry about me. I'm OK.'"

School officials announced Mrs. Jarosz's death on the school Web site along with photographs of her at school events. About two weeks ago Mrs. Jarosz's daughter, Kim, came down with chickenpox, which prevented her from visiting her mom in the hospital. Because her mom was so sick, the doctors found way to let Kim visit her mom for a few minutes the day before she died.

"I knew I had to make the most of my 15 minutes so I told her I loved her and that she still looked great," Kim said. "Even though she didn't react to me being there, I knew she could still hear me. I know that she was waiting to say her personal goodbyes to everyone and that she was finally ready to let go. She will truly be missed. Her courage and strength will be a constant reminder to me and my whole family of what a wonderful person she was."

In lieu of flowers, the family is suggesting donations to the American Cancer Society. For information, call (630) 889-1700.