The thing about Kathleen (Kathy) LaBrosse was that she treated her friends like family and her family like friends. Of which she had many of both! As a result, she acquired something of an ongoing fan club during her 68 years, people who came into her orbit and stayed to enjoy her wicked wit-sometimes sharp, her kind generosity, her sense of fun, her overall love of life. Along the way she rescued dogs and cats, donated to charities, mentored the children of her friends, and founded a highly successful property management firm, The Highlander Group "Kathy was there for everything," said Lori Petty, who counted Kathy as her closest friend for more than 40 years. "She was a huge part of my life and that of my children, Steven and Daniel. She was always the doting aunt." Kathleen died August 20, 2026 at her home in Waterford surrounded by her family and friends. For Amanda Ioco, a chance encounter with Kathleen at a bowling alley in Oxford led to a thriving career and long friendship. Amanda was still a high school student in 2004 when Kathleen asked her if she wanted to come on board the fledgling Highlander Group as her first employee. Kathleen also introduced Amanda to her future husband, Frank, and has had a hand in raising their two children who saw Kathleen as a grandmother figure.  "Everything happened because of Kathleen," Amanda said. "She was a problem solver, and she could make anybody laugh."  Amanda will continue Kathleen's legacy as head of The Highlander Group, based in Keego Harbor, with 19 employees and more than 60 properties. Jane Tranter met Kathy when she came to this country 35 years ago. Jane was welcomed by her within the first few days of arriving and they remained close ever since. In fact, she joined the Highlander Group in 2017 at Kathleen's invitation. "It was the best decision I ever made and I never looked back." Jane said. In the last six months, Jane, along with a close cadre of friends and relatives including her cousin Becki, Amanda and Kathy's partner, Cecil Deramus provided love and support as Kathy fought a long illness. Her years-long friend, Kevin, met her in freshman year in high school and maintained a relationship over the years. He pointed out that "Kathy knew what she wanted and lived her life her way from the first minute I met her with no regrets" Kathleen spent most of her life on the shores of Cass Lake in Waterford where her family owned a home. Her cousin Rebecca (Becki) Bieri recalled Kathy as a voracious reader who liked "cooking, fine dining, decent coffee and a good drink."  The family loved spending time with Kathleen on the deck overlooking the lake. "We're a close family," she recalled "With a lot of memories". Kathleen was born May 21, 1958, in Detroit to the late Harold F. and Billie L. (nee: Gibbons) LaBrosse.  In early 1960, Kathleen and her parents moved permanently to the family cottage on Cass Lake in Waterford Township. She is survived by her partner Cecil Deramus; cousins Sean Michael (Sophia Raptis) Bieri, Rebecca Pauline Bieri, Mark Andrew Bieri, Brian Patrick (Catherine) Bieri and family, David Wayne Brown and family. Kathleen had many LaBrosse cousins as well. She was preceded in death by her beloved cousins Susan Marie (Greek) Bieri and Janis (Greek) Brown; beloved aunts and uncles including Eugene (Patricia) Greek, Robert (Shirley) Graves, and William (Elizabeth) VanGorder; and her adored grandmother, Pauline Gibbons. Kathleen was a 1976 graduate of Pontiac Catholic High School and graduated with a BA in English from Oakland University. Visitation will be Thursday, August 27 from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. at COATS FUNERAL HOME - WATERFORD, 3141 Sashabaw Road. A prayer service will be held on Friday August 28 at 11 a.m. at Coats followed by a luncheon at 5th Tavern in Bloomfield Hills. Memorials may be made to Michigan Animal Rescue League, ASPCA, Hamtramck Cat Assistance Team and Susan G. Komen.

Michigan Animal Rescue League
790 Featherstone, Pontiac MI 48342
Web: https://marleague.org/donate/memory-honor-donation/

ASPCA
424 E. 92nd Street, New York NY 10128-6804
Tel: 1-800-628-0028
Web: https://secure.aspca.org/donate/memorial?ms=wb_lpf_waystogive-teaser&initialms=wb_lpf_waystogive-tea

Susan G. Komen for the Cure
5005 LBJ Freeway, Suite 250, Dallas TX 75244
Tel: 1-877-465-6636
Web: http://www.komen.org/

Hamtramck Cat Assistance Team (H-CAT)
2275 Florian Street, Hamtramck MI 48212
Web: http://www.causeiq.com