Kay Ann Rittenhouse Epp, 87, of Sandy Hook, Connecticut, only child of H. Lesle Rittenhouse and Evelyn Virginia Jackson Rittenhouse, died peacefully on Monday, May 30. She was a resident of Sandy Hook for 53 years. Kay was born in Fort Wayne, Indiana, and spent her childhood in Cleveland Heights, Ohio.

In 1957, Kay married David Wilkins Epp of Erie, Pennsylvania, and they raised three children together.

She is survived by her daughters, Laurel Kay Epp Ziehl (Mike Ziehl) of Wells, Maine, and Amy Elisabeth Epp Supak (Wayne Supak) of Washington, Illinois; one son, Alexander James Epp (Lori Porter) of Portland, Oregon; six grandchildren: Andrew Ziehl (Cade Roach) and Elisabeth Ziehl Decker (Calvin Decker), Cassandra and Talon Supak, and Shenoa and Kelsy Epp; and one great-granddaughter, Eliot Roach-Ziehl.

Mrs Epp earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Education at Principia College and a Master’s Degree in Elementary Education at Western Connecticut State University. She taught fifth grade in Ohio and upstate New York. For 15 years, she was a substitute teacher for the Newtown, Connecticut public school system. Mrs Epp pursued a Master’s Degree in Library Science and worked at the WCSU Library. She later worked for Sears Service Center in Brookfield, Connecticut.

She was a life-long accomplished quilter, avid golfer in her youth, and was keenly interested in family genealogy and traveling. She fondly remembered living as an expat in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, with her family from 1967 to 1969. Over the years, she made over 180 colorful, hand-sewn appliqued and pieced quilts that were exhibited at regional county fairs and national quilt shows. She also joined many group tours for international quilt shows in France, Austria, and Belgium.

There will be no funeral service. The family will hold a celebration of life at a later date.