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WARREN -- Kay L. Santti, 89, passed away peacefully at home, Friday, Nov. 14, 2025.
She was born Sept. 9, 1936, in Warren, the daughter of Marybell Abell Klingensmith and Jay Klingensmith.
Kay graduated from Warren G. Harding High School in June 1954. Her secretarial career began at McClure and Wilder Advertising Agency upon graduation and Kay later became the executive secretary to the CEO of Sharon Steel. She balanced career and family well in a time when that was uncommon.
Kay married the love of her life, Ronald E. Santti, on June 19, 1955; and they enjoyed 63 years together. They were active members of St. Mark's Lutheran Church in Warren, where they sang in the choir. Their relationship was one to admire. Later in life, Kay was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church in Niles.
She sang in the a cappella choir at Warren G. Harding High School. She sang with the Warren Community Chorus in a performance of The Messiah and also sang in The Sweet Adelines. She enjoyed swimming regularly at the Jewish Community Center, where she swam with her son, Todd, until his passing. Kay and her family were members of the Warren Olympic Club for decades, where she was an active swim team parent. She really enjoyed spending time with her grandchildren and cheered them on at their swim meets and tennis matches. She loved reading and would often read 20 to 40 books a month. Kay never missed watching the Cleveland Browns and her favorite team, the Ohio State Buckeyes.
Kay was loved by everyone, by close friends who knew her for years and by people who just met her. She had a knack for drawing people to her, was full of wisdom and always had a smile for everyone, no matter how her day was going. She was the gracious hostess to her entire family for all of their holiday dinners. She was famous for her homemade chocolate chip cookies, snowball cookies and especially for her delicious chocolate cake.
Kay will be dearly missed and is survived by her daughter, Lana (Nick) Kontos and her granddaughter, Paras Kontos; daughter-in-law, Carrie Santti; and her grandchildren, Samantha and Spencer Santti; her sister, Linda Savor of Greenville, Pa.; and nephew, BJ (Sara) Klingensmith of Clearwater, Florida, and their sons, Mark (Jasmine) and Alan (Sara.)
Kay was preceded in death by her son, Todd; her beloved husband, Ronnie; her parents; and brothers and sisters-in-law, Bill (Joyce) Klingensmith of Clearwater, Florida, and Jack (Marge) Klingensmith of Bristolville.
A private service and luncheon were held to honor Kay's life.
Donations, in Kay Santti's memory, can be made to either Trinity Lutheran Church, Attention: The Heating Fund, 56 N. Chestnut St., Niles, OH 44446; or Southern Care Hospice, 970 Windham Court, Suite 9, Boardman, OH 44512.
Arrangements have been entrusted to Carl W. Hall Funeral Home.
(special notice)