Katherine "Kay" Arlene McDonnell, 88, Duluth, died Saturday, July 5, 2025 after a brief illness. She was born November 29, 1936 at St. Luke's Hospital in Duluth, MN to Selma (Broman) Hansten and William (Bill) Hansten.

Kay was raised in West Duluth. She was baptized and confirmed at Bethel Lutheran Church in West Duluth and graduated from Denfeld High School in 1954. She worked at Garon Knitting Mills as a secretary before she married Terrence J. McDonnell on November 26, 1955. Terrence was in the U.S. Navy and the family became a Navy family stationed at Pearl Harbor for 6 years and Great Lakes Naval Base in Illinois. Kay enjoyed golf, spending two years as the handicap chair for the Navy/Marine Women's golf league at Pearl Harbor. The family returned to Duluth after Terry retired from the Navy where Kay was then employed at St. Luke's Hospital for 23 years before retiring in 1997. Kay had a lot of hobbies including ceramics, watercolor painting, knitting, crocheting, stain glass and joining the Lowrey organ music group at Schmitt Music where she was a member for many years.

Kay was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Terrence J. McDonnell Sr.; son, Terrence J. McDonnell Jr.; sister, Betty (Elroy) Abrahamson; and son-in-law, Ronald Guimont.

Kay is survived by her daughter, Sharon McDonnell-Guimont; granddaughter, Elise (Justin) Guimont-Blackburn; two great-granddaughters, Reagan and Selma Blackburn; and a great-grandbaby on the way.

Visitation will be held at 10:30 AM on Saturday, July 26th at Sunrise Funeral Home, 4798 Miller Trunk Hwy, with memorial service at 11:00 AM, and reception to follow. Interment at Sunrise Memorial Park Cemetery on Monday morning.  In lieu of flowers, memorials preferred to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.