Kathleen Ann Parisi (née Peters), a published writer, died June 23, 2026, in Fayetteville, Ark. She was born Nov. 9, 1940.
Born in Cleveland, Ohio, Katy earned degrees in English and Education at Bowling Green State University, and a teaching license in 1962. Her radio broadcasting career began with an internship at Voice of America in Washington, D.C., where she met Jim Parisi, to whom she was married for sixty years until his passing in 2024.
Together, they raised two children while Katy balanced domestic life with her ongoing work in broadcasting, theater, writing, and substitute teaching. The family settled in McLean, Va., where Katy established herself as a prolific freelance writer.
Her humor and travel articles appeared in prominent publications such as The Washington Post, Reader’s Digest, Washington Star, and Cleveland Plain Dealer. She contributed over fifty articles to The Washington Post alone and created brochures, scripts, and radio spots for various organizations.
In 1995, Katy’s radio drama ‘Puzzles’ earned first prize in the BBC World Service Playwriting Competition, selected from over 1,000 entries worldwide.
After 26 years in McLean, Katy and Jim moved to Hendersonville, N.C., where they relished the beauty of the Blue Ridge Mountains. In their later years, they resided at the Langford of Fayetteville to be near their son.
Katy is survived by her son, Adam Parisi (Anita); daughter, Joy Cornell (Bryan); and grandsons, Joshua (Elianah and great-grandson Nicholas), Matthew, Zachary (Jill), and Luke (Madi) Parisi.
She was preceded in death by her beloved sisters, Margaret McKay and Eileen Howe. Her remains have been donated to a medical school; no services will be held.
Remembrance donations may be sent to Circle of Life Hospice Springdale at nwacircleoflife.com or the Langford of Fayetteville at langfordoffayetteville.com/Employee Holiday Fund (both in Arkansas).