Obituary of Katherine S. Hernandez

Katherine "Kitsie" S. Hernandez, age 65, passed away peacefully, surrounded by her family, on Saturday, October 4, 2025. Born on August 31, 1960, in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania, Kitsie was the daughter of the late Albert and Catherine (Sanders) Statts.

She earned her Master’s Degree in Education from the University of Delaware and dedicated her career to teaching in several Joliet-area schools, where she touched countless lives with her kindness, patience, and love of learning.

Kitsie cherished the great outdoors—especially fishing trips, camping adventures, and evenings spent around a cozy campfire with family and friends. Whether casting a line, playing pickleball, or setting off on a family vacation, she found joy in life’s simple pleasures and the company of those she loved most.

She is survived by her devoted husband, Raymond; her son, Raymond Hernandez (Sydnie Weis); her stepdaughter, Donna Rae Mack; her brothers, Jay Statts, John Statts, and Kurt Statts; and several beloved nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her sister, Susan Statts Kelly.

A Memorial Visitation for Katherine S. Hernandez will be held on Thursday, October 9, 2025, at Fred C. Dames Funeral Home, 3200 Black Rd., Joliet, IL, from 4:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. Honoring her wishes, cremation rites have been accorded.

 For more information, please call 815-741-5500, or visit her Memorial Tribute at www.fredcdames.com, where you can share a favorite memory or leave an online condolence.