Catherine "Kay" Heittola, 84, Little Falls, formerly of Moose Lake, passed away peacefully on Monday, May 6, 2024, at Highland Senior Living, Little Falls.  Kay was born on March 11, 1940, in Moose Lake to Fredrick and Catherine Carlson.  On February 6, 1959, Kay married Alvin Heittola in Automba.  They lived in Kalevala Twp.  She was extremely proud that at the age of 24 and after her first child, she went back to high school to receive her diploma at Cromwell High School. Kay worked at the Moose Lake State Hospital until its closure and then transferred to the State Hospital in Brainerd.  She also held other jobs in the area including working at Villa Vista Nursing Home in Cromwell, Eagle Lake Nursing Home, Willow River Nursery, and Stearns Mfg. in Carlton.  Kay loved arts and crafts and puzzles.

Kay is preceded in death by her husband: Alvin in 2016; sister: Elizabeth "Beth" Peterson; two brothers: Fredrick Carlson, Jr. and Eugene Carlson; grandson: Aiden Johnson; and her parents: Fredrick and Catherine Carlson.

She will be lovingly remembered by four children: Sonny (Tracy Grewatz) Heittola; Myron (Lois) Heittola; Elden (Rebecca) Heittola; and Russell (Lisa) Heittola; six grandchildren: Sara, Scott, Jenny, Rachael, Evan, and Amber; great grandchildren: Landen, Ethen, Corben, Shane, Jasmin, Mikayla, Payton, Kinley, Hudson, and Crew; eight siblings: Patricia Andrle; Kennard Carlson, Leonard (Jan) Carlson; Craig Carlson; Daniel (Ruth) Carlson; Sylvia (Michael) Kemiel; Sharon Carlson; and Debra (Karl) Anderson; and numerous nieces, nephews, and friends.

A Gathering of Family and Friends will be from 11 am until the 12 pm Noon Memorial Service on Friday, June 14, 2024, in Hamlin-Hansen-Kosloski Funeral Home, Moose Lake.  Inurnment will follow in Sunset Memorial Cemetery, Moose Lake.

Arrangements by Hamlin-Hansen-Kosloski Funeral Home, Moose Lake.