Mary Kathleen Sapko

Mary Kathleen "Kath" Hughes Sapko, a devoted daughter, wife, mother, grandmother, aunt, sister, and friend, passed away peacefully near her home in Crossville, Tennessee. 

Born in Akron, Ohio, on December 28, 1943, Kath was the eldest daughter and second of five children born to James and Jane Hughes. In 1959, she moved with her family to Bradford, Pennsylvania. After studying secretarial skills at Katherine Gibbs School in Boston, she returned to Bradford, where she met and married the love of her life, Dave Sapko. Together they shared 62 wonderful years of marriage. 

Dave's career with Corning Glass led them to homes in Corning, New York; Wellsboro, Pennsylvania; and Greenville, Ohio. Following his retirement, they embraced new adventures, living in North Carolina, Florida, and Illinois before eventually settling in Tennessee. 

Kath was an artist. Creative, entrepreneurial, and endlessly imaginative, she built a successful business around her artistic talents and spent many years traveling to gift and craft shows. Her journey as an artist began in Bradford and later grew into her own storefront, Kathy's Korner, in Corning. She became known for her beautifully hand-painted clothing and home décor, creations that brought color and joy to countless homes. 

Kath continued to share her creative gifts throughout her life by teaching at community centers and libraries while living in Florida, and volunteering as a craft instructor at the Good Samaritan Senior Living center in Crossville. She formed lasting friendships with many of her students, whom she came to regard as extended family. Through these efforts, Kath encouraged others to discover their own creativity while creating meaningful connections in her community. Dave was her constant partner in these endeavors, crafting wood, acrylic, and glass pieces that her students transformed into works of art. 

A woman of deep faith, Kath had a remarkable gift for friendship. She could strike up a conversation with anyone and had a special talent for maintaining relationships across years and miles. It was not uncommon for her to spend an hour or more on the phone catching up with cousins and lifelong friends. 

In addition to her beloved husband, Dave; son, Jeff; daughter-in-law, Anne; and granddaughter, Katie, Kath is survived by her sister-in-law, Kathy Hughes; and her sister, Betsy Hughes-Zimbler, along with Betsy's husband, Lyle, and their children, Will and Livie. 

Kath was preceded in death by Dave's parents, George and Dorothy Sapko; her parents, Jim and Jane Hughes; her brothers, Bob and Jim Hughes; her sister, Peg Bell; her sister-in-law, Donna Judd; and many beloved friends and cousins. 

Whether through her art, her thoughtfulness, or her ability to make others feel welcome and loved, Kath left a lasting impression on all who knew her. Her legacy lives on in the family she cherished, the friendships she cultivated, and the countless lives she touched with her warm and generous spirit.

A Memorial Mass will be held at St. Alphonsus Catholic Church on Friday, November 6, 2026, at 11:00 AM.