Kathleen R. Reber, longtime nursing school instructor

Kathleen R. Reber, 78, of West Chester, a nursing school teacher for a quarter-century, died Tuesday, Dec. 3, of a heart ailment at Paoli Hospital.

Mrs. Reber was born in Parkesburg and lived in Chester County for 70 years.

She graduated from Villa Maria Academy in 1953 and earned a bachelor's degree in nursing from Georgetown University in 1957.

"Kathleen loved her time at each of these schools, and maintained friendships that were developed there until her passing," her family said in a statement.

For the next 25 years, Mrs. Reber taught hundreds of "young, eager, nursing students," first at Coatesville Hospital School of Nursing, and later at West Chester State Teachers College, her family said.

In class, Mrs. Reber emphasized the importance of giving good clinical and also compassionate care to patients, she told her family.

After her teaching career, Mrs. Reber changed jobs in the early 1980s. She went to work at the law firm Malcolm & Riley, and later, White & Williams, advising lawyers on hundreds of complex medical cases.

In 1993, she and her husband, Robert, retired to Cape May to enjoy walks on the promenade, beautiful sunrises, and visits from friends and family.

The couple moved back to West Chester to spend more time with their grandchildren in 2003. Her husband died in March 2013. They were married 53 years.

"She was devoted to family," her son Chris said. "In the last 15 years, it was all about the grandkids."

Surviving, in addition to her son, are sons Bob Jr., Mark, Matt, and Chet; 11 grandchildren; a brother; and two sisters.

A visitation at 10 a.m. Monday, Dec. 9, will be followed by a Funeral Mass at 11 a.m. at SS. Peter and Paul Church, 1325 Boot Rd., West Chester. Interment will be private.

Contributions may be sent to Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Lockbox 1352, Box 8500, Philadelphia 19178-1352.

610-313-8102