Kathleen M. Risley February 1, 1944 - May 13, 2025

Beloved Educator, Musician, and Matriarch

1944 – 2025

Kathleen M. Risley, 81, of Allentown, entered into eternal rest on Tuesday, May 13, 2025, at Lehigh Valley Hospital, Cedar Crest, surrounded by the love of her family. She was the devoted wife of the late Walter P. Risley, Jr., with whom she shared a lifetime of love, partnership, and cherished memories.

Born in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, Kathleen was the daughter of the late James E. and Mary C. (McNelis) Murphy. A lifelong learner and passionate educator, she earned her Bachelor’s Degree from College Misericordia  and went on to obtain her Master’s Degree in Education from Wilkes University. Her professional legacy is deeply woven into the fabric of the Northampton Area School District, where she dedicated over two decades to teaching and was instrumental in founding the district’s String Program—an enduring contribution to arts education.

Kathleen’s love of music was not only her profession but also her life’s calling. She nurtured generations of young musicians as a neighborhood piano and violin teacher, sharing her gifts for over 50 years. As a talented violinist, she graced the stage of the Allentown Symphony for more than 25 years and later performed with the Lehigh Valley Pops Orchestra following her retirement. Her musicianship was a source of joy, inspiration, and community.

A woman of deep faith and generosity, Kathleen was a devoted member of St. Joseph the Worker Church in Orefield. Her warmth, wisdom, and gentle spirit touched all who knew her. But above all, her greatest joy came from her family. She delighted in the lives of her children and grandchildren and took special pride in helping to raise the next generation, creating a home filled with love, music, and laughter.

Kathleen is survived by her loving children: Dr. Walter P. Risley III and his wife Angel of Ocean Springs, MS.; Ms.Patricia A. Risley of Allentown; and Dr. Jennifer K. Risley and her husband Dr. Shawn Quinn of Allentown. She will be dearly missed by her adoring grandchildren: Andrew and his wife Catherine Moretto, Nathan, Olivia, Patrick, Molly, Carter, and Liam—as well as her eagerly awaited great-grandchild. She is also survived by her beloved sister, Rosemary Lambert, and her husband, Albert of Wake Forest, NC. Kathleen was preceded in death by her sisters, Baby Mary Murphy and Ann Marie Schneider.

Services: A calling will be held on Friday, May 23, 2025, from 8:00 – 9:45 a.m. at Stephens Funeral Home, 274 N. Krocks Road, Allentown, PA 18106. A Mass of Christian Burial will follow at 10:30 a.m. at St. Joseph the Worker Church, 1879 Applewood Drive, Orefield, PA 18069.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in Kathleen’s memory to the Allentown Symphony Association, Attn: Development, 23 N. 6th Street, Allentown, PA 18101, supporting the music she so deeply loved and championed.

Kathleen’s life was a symphony of compassion, service, and devotion. Her legacy will live on in every note played by her students, every life touched by her kindness, and every memory shared by those who had the privilege to know her.