It is with great sadness that the family of Cathleen “Elise ” Kochheiser announces her passing April 24, 2025 in Olympia, Washington.
Elise was born January 12, 1963 in Mansfield, Ohio to Roger and Portia Perl. She was a 1981 graduate of Mansfield St. Peter High School. Elise attended college at Seton Hill College before marrying Scott Kochheiser in 1986, beginning her travels as a military wife and mother. She returned to school and completed a degree in Early Childhood Education from the University of Alaska, Fairbanks in 2001 while raising their two children, Ben and Noel.
Elise dedicated her life and career caring for children. Harnessing the formative power of the early years, Elise was an award-winning preschool teacher. Her passion was to ensure every child grew up feeling safe, loved and confident. Her boundless energy and creativity ignited wonder and joy for learning in her students. She treasured the thank you notes from her students and families throughout the years. Devoted to her mission of ensuring children got a good start to life, Elise touched countless little hearts in the decades she served as a teacher.
Elise was a Godly woman and was always active in her faith. She was a prayer warrior and devoted student of the Bible. In addition to her personal spiritual growth, she volunteered in ministries supporting single mothers and fighting hunger and homelessness. She frequently reached out to friends and family to offer encouragement through the highs and lows of life. Elise enjoyed sending gifts and hand-written letters to let people know she was thinking of them. Especially close to her heart, Elise cared deeply for other’s spiritual and mental health, often sharing her own journey in support.
Elise marveled at the simple things in life. She loved dogs, horses, and flowers in particular. She was a prolific gardener and beautified each place she called home. She never met a wildflower that wasn’t worth taking a picture of. In her retirement years, Elise spent times in the Colorado mountains, traveling with her husband, and being a doting grandmother.
Surviving family members include her husband, Scott, son Ben (Jessica) and their three children, Isabel (8), Abigail (5) and Ben (3); daughter, Noel; and siblings David Perl, Dan Perl, Tim Perl, Ann Kitchen, Carolyn Zajack and Claudia Raff; and several nieces, nephews and cousins.
Elise loved greatly and made an impact beyond her years on earth. We can only hope to love each other as much as she loved us. She is missed greatly. Matthew 25:23 – “Well done, good and faithful servant!”
A funeral Mass will be held at St. Michael Church in Olympia, WA. at 12:00 noon May 28, 2025. Livestream is available at http://youtube.com/c/saintmichaelparish. Internment will be at the Mansfield Catholic Cemetery in Mansfield, Ohio June 7, 2025 at 10:00 a.m. followed by a private family reception.
In lieu of flowers, we encourage you to continue Elise’s mission by donating to the Mansfield St. Peter School Montessori Scholarship Fund via the C. Elise Kochheiser (Perl) ’81 Montessori Scholarship through the Msgr. Edward C. Dunn Foundation for Education, 104 W. First Street, Mansfield, Ohio 44902, or online at