Portsmouth, VA – Katherine “Kathy” Margaret Brust, 53, died peacefully in her home on Wednesday, December 18th, 2024 surrounded by her loving family in Portsmouth, Virginia after a long and courageous battle with cancer.

Kathy, often going by the nickname “Turkey”, is survived by her children Katherine, Margaret, and Matthew; her siblings John (Michelle), James (Sue), Daniel, Rosann, and Robert (Alyssa); and many beloved nieces, nephews, and chosen children. Kathy was the youngest of six children. She is preceded in death by her mother, Katherine Anna Butler, and father, John Arthur Brust, of Bergen County, New Jersey.

Kathy was born on June 25th, 1971 in Englewood, New Jersey. She attended St. Theresa’s School in Cresskill, New Jersey and Charlotte Valley Central School in Davenport, New York. After moving to Virginia Beach, Virginia, she worked numerous jobs, her favorites being her work in healthcare, as a coach, and as a bus driver at her children’s school.

Kathy lived a full and happy life. She grew up splitting time between New Jersey and her family’s farm in upstate New York. It was there she developed her fondness for cows and other animals, and the simpler things in life. After school, she moved to Virginia where she raised her three children and lived the remainder of her life. She was a beloved mother, sister, coach, and lifelong friend to many. She enjoyed going on frequent thrill-seeking, bucket list adventures and vacations with her family to the mountains, the beach, the sky, and anywhere in between. Like the rest of her family, she was a natural born competitor as evidenced by her own time playing sports as well as her lengthy coaching career. She found joy in helping others, working on projects around the house, visiting with friends and family, and snuggling her three giant lap dogs and two cats. Her strength, independence, and resilience were apparent in all that she did. She was a mother to anyone who walked through her front door and will be remembered by many for telling them “get out of your box”.

A Celebration of Life will be held in early January in Virginia. Please check here at a later date or her memorial page on Facebook for more details.  Cremation Society of Virginia Chesapeake Office is assisting the family.