As counselors were working to help staff and students at schools in the Columbiana Village School District again Thursday, parents whose children had Cathleen Wagner as a kindergarten teacher were struggling to cope with the loss as well.
Jennifer Sloan, whose son was in Cathleen's class, said she "had a very gentle spirit and was great with the kids."
Cathleen died early Wednesday from complications after reportedly contracting the H1N1 virus. The 30-year educator had been away from work for almost a month, spending the last several weeks hospitalized at the Cleveland Clinic.
Susan DeCesare's three children all had Cathleen in school, her youngest in kindergarten this year. She called Cathleen "very loving, caring."
And while many in the quiet community might find it difficult coming to terms with Cathleen's death, the hardest part may be in trying to explain it to their young children.
DeCesare said her daughter "believes that she's in heaven, but then she goes and asks when she's coming back to school."
Calling hours will be Saturday and Sunday at the Seederly-Mong & Beck Funeral Home in Columbiana. Services will be held 11 a.m. Monday at the Emmanuel Lutheran Church in Salem.
