Kathryn Linker Sieberman, 90

Kathryn Linker Sieberman, 90, of Hendersonville, went to sleep in Jesus Christ, Friday, March 22, 2013, in Asheville. She was born in Greensboro on Nov. 14, 1922, to the late Henry Lee Linker, Sr. and Thelma Taylor Linker.

Mrs. Sieberman, lovingly called "Aunt Kate" by many who knew her, was best known for her ability to live her Christian faith by humbly accepting all walks of life and caring for the needs of all she encountered. Her career was marked by helping others. She began her work-life as a teacher in Hendersonville, and later in a one-room Montana schoolhouse. She served many years as a Vice President of Adventist Hinsdale Hospital in Hinsdale, Ill.

Kathryn Sieberman had a healing spirit that touched every person who met her. In 1957, Kathryn joined Hinsdale Sanitarium and Hospital ("The San") as a Switchboard Operator. Over more than 50 years she dedicated her life to helping patients, family members, visitors, employed staff and Medical Staff members. Aunt Kate had the gift of making all she met feel cared for and special.

Not long after joining the hospital, Mrs. Sieberman was assigned the leadership position for the entire Admitting Office that included the Switchboard, thus becoming the "face" of the hospital to the community. In addition to a strong work ethic, Kathryn was dedicated to personal development. While working full-time, she attended night school, graduating in 1973, from Northwestern University with a Bachelor of Philosophy degree.

Aunt Kate strongly believed that a hospital's capacity for healing comes not from its structure but from the spirit of those who work inside it. Her influence was especially profound on the Hinsdale Family Practice Residency Program. All areas of hospital life benefitted from her influence and loving touch. She was seen to be so essential to the Medical Staff that it named its lounge after her. She was an effective advocate for the Family Practice Residency and was the key to recruiting many young physicians to the program. Aunt Kate, as the residents called her, has a huge "alumni association" of once budding physicians and their families who credit her with their ability to tolerate the rigors of the program. She also extended this same loving kindness to many employees and others who hold fond memories of her encouragement.

Aunt Kate shared her zest for life and passion for Hinsdale Hospital with everyone she encountered. She was active in new employee orientation and taught many in-service training programs with the goal of creating a professional yet personal "look and feel" to the institution.

In her "retirement years", Aunt Kate returned to Adventist Hinsdale Hospital (by popular demand) as its "Customer Service Representative," welcoming each new patient with a flower bouquet. She said, "I give them (the Patients) the opportunity to express their needs, concerns or questions, so I can make their stay better. I don't want to take the human touch out of health care."

In 2004, as Hinsdale Hospital prepared to celebrate its Centennial, Aunt Kate once again came out of retirement. Her focus was to serve as the organizational historian and to help the hospital prepare for its celebration. However, she also returned to her previous tasks of doing all manner of "customer service" activities. Aunt Kate was 85 when a broken leg forced her third retirement.

Always a North Carolinian at heart, upon her third retirement Kathryn moved to North Carolina where she resided at Fletcher Park Inn in Hendersonville, near the school where she began her teaching career in her beloved mountains of Western North Carolina.

The Seventh-day Adventist Church was Mrs. Sieberman's spiritual home where she taught many classes and shared her unique gifts of spiritual discipline and positive, healthy Christian living. She was a member of the Hinsdale Seventh-day Adventist Church for 56 years.

Kathryn is survived by nephews Chet Linker of Summerfield, and Dan Linker of Waynesville; sister-in-law Elizabeth Edwards Linker of Colfax; great niece Emma C. Linker of Pittsburgh; great nephew Wilson B. Linker of Oakland, Calif.; and Wilbur and Doris Linker of Greensboro.

Kathryn was preceded in death by her husband, Louis E. Sieberman and her children David E. and Linda Lee Sieberman, also by her brother Henry Lee Linker, Jr.

A private burial service was held on March 28, 2013, at Forest Lawn Cemetery, Greensboro.

A memorial service will be held at 3 p.m. April 27, 2013, at the Hendersonville Seventh-day Adventist Church, 2301 Asheville Highway, Hendersonville.

In addition, a special celebration of Aunt Kate's life will be held at 3 p.m. on July 20, 2013, at the Hinsdale Seventh-day Adventist Church, 201 North Oak Street, Hinsdale, Ill.

Memorial gifts or gifts in lieu of flowers may be given in Kathryn Sieberman's name to: Hinsdale Hospital Foundation, P.O. Box 130, Hinsdale, IL 60521, Benefitting the Cancer Center and Clinical Education or Hinsdale Seventh-day Adventist Church, 201 North Oak Street, Hinsdale, IL 60521, Benefitting Christian Education.

An online register book is available for family and friends by visiting www.thosshepherd.com.

Thos. Shepherd & Son Funeral Directors is in charge of arrangements.