Katherine L. "Kate" Hess

Katherine “Kate” Louise Hess passed away peacefully on Friday after a long illness. She was born in 1940 in Brooklyn, New York, to Herbert Bernard Hess and Bertha Fleming.

Kate grew up in Millerton, New York, and spent most of her adult life in New York’s Capital Region, where she became a beloved member of the community. She attended Webutuck High School in Millerton and graduated from Drew University in Madison, New Jersey, in 1962.

Kate dedicated four decades of service to the Social Security Administration, helping countless individuals throughout her career. She began as a Field Representative, assisting people who were unable to travel to a Social Security office for their claim interviews. The majority of her career was spent as a Public Affairs Specialist in the Office of the Albany Area Director, where she shared her expertise through radio programs, conferences, and public events. She was known for her positive attitude and exceptional knowledge of Social Security rules and regulations, which she used to help people navigate the system and maximize their benefits. She concluded her career as a Hearing Recorder in the Albany Hearing Office.

Kate was known for her upbeat personality, quick wit, and sassy sense of humor—even to the very end. She had a gift for making people laugh and brought warmth and energy wherever she went. Family and friends will remember her generosity, resilience, and spirited nature.

For more than a decade, Kate organized and hosted family reunions at her home in Sand Lake, creating opportunities for loved ones to stay connected and build lasting memories together.

Her son, Chris, fondly recalls a birthday party Kate hosted for the family dog at their home in East Greenbush. The guests included all the neighborhood dogs, accompanied by the owners' children as their "plus-ones"—a celebration that perfectly reflected Kate's sense of fun and love of bringing people together.

Her best friend, Patty, fondly recalls the Friday happy hours she and Kate shared over Bloody Marys to celebrate the end of the work week. She and her friends, Sonia, Sheeri and Tina enjoyed many camping trips together, and Kate also treasured the friendships she shared with Doris, Candi, Randy, Kevin, Eva, and many others who enriched her life over the years.

An avid reader, Kate enjoyed traveling, discovering new places, and sharing meals with family and friends at her favorite restaurants. She was a devoted fan of murder mysteries, detective stories, and crime shows. She especially loved nature and birds, spending warm afternoons on her porch watching the wildlife and joking that squirrels existed solely to eat the birdseed she carefully placed in her feeders. For many years, she quietly dedicated her time to helping an elderly friend with grocery shopping, snow removal, and errands.

Although she found joy in many things throughout her life, nothing brought her greater happiness than the birth of her granddaughter, Ulrika, in 2015. Becoming a grandmother was one of the greatest joys of her life, and she cherished every opportunity to spend time with "Uli." As one niece observed, Kate's home was "a shrine to Uli"—a fact made delightfully clear by the large collage of photographs prominently displayed in her living room.

Kate is survived by her son, Christopher Ludewig of Wiscasset, Maine; her daughter, Heidi Hess von Ludewig of Apex, North Carolina; her son-in-law, Jason Collier; and her beloved granddaughter, Ulrika.

In keeping with Kate’s wishes, no funeral or memorial service will be held. She once told her daughter that she wanted her departure to be “like I was at a party and then I left.” Those who knew and loved her are invited instead to remember her in their own way—with a good meal, a good laugh, a favorite mystery, or a cherished memory shared with family and friends. She asked for her ashes to be scattered at The Cape, a beloved vacation spot where the family spent a few weeks each summer.

Kate lived with humor, determination, independence, and a generous heart. She leaves behind a lifetime of memories, laughter, and love, and will be remembered fondly by all who were fortunate enough to know her.