Lisa (Taffe) Kateley

Lisa (Taffe) Kateley, 59, formerly of Graceville, MN, passed away on Wednesday, October 30, 2024, in Gaylord, MN. 

A Celebration of Life will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, November 16, 2024, at the Holy Rosary Parish Center in Graceville. A private inurnment will be at Graceville Consolidated Cemetery at a later date.

Lisa Marie Taffe was born on June 4, 1965, in Graceville, MN, to Lawrence and Adeline (Schmidt) Taffe, the youngest of their four daughters. She spent her childhood in Barry, MN, where she loved snowmobiling and enjoyed time with cousins and friends at the Taffe family farm. She attended school in Graceville, MN, graduating with the Graceville High School Class of 1983.

After graduation, Lisa moved to Minneapolis, MN, where she worked as a personal care attendant and managed cleaning services for commercial and residential spaces for many years. On May 12, 1990, she married Kevin Kateley, and they later divorced.

Lisa cherished time with family and friends, frequently returning to Graceville, MN, to visit her mom, “Mama T.” She enjoyed a strong cup of dark roast coffee and good food and was dedicated to her daily goal of 10,000 steps, often reaching 20,000. She collected angels and cardinals and took countless photos of sunsets and the moon. She loved texting and chatting with her three nieces and had a playful bond with her brothers-in-law.

Lisa will be remembered for her kindness, generosity, empathetic spirit, and beautiful brown eyes.

She is survived by her two sisters: Mary (Mike) Andrews of Clearwater, MN; and Janette (Randy) Sigler of Brookings, SD; her three nieces: Lindsay (Keith) Eisenmenger; Megan Andrews (Tim Dingmann); and Sadie Persell; and her brother-in-law, Steve (Cheryl) Persell.

She was preceded in death by her parents: Larry and Addie Taffe; her sister, Cindy Persell; her paternal grandparents: James and Rose Taffe; her maternal grandparents: Joseph and Matilda Schmidt; and her beloved dog, Lombardi.