Kathryn A. "Kathy" Streacker, a dog lover and beloved friend to many in Salem's Derby Street neighborhood, died Sept. 21. She was 68.

Her death came after a three-year battle with cancer. Kathy cared for hundreds of dogs over three decades in Salem.

According to longtime friend Dr. Larissa Lucas, Kathy had a gift with even the most poorly behaved dogs, who would behave just for her.

Friend Una Casey said Kathy was like a sister to her over their 35-year friendship, with a designated chair at every major family holiday dinner over the decades. Kathy would arrive with some number of dogs in tow, from just a couple to as many as ten.

Friend Suzie Weldon fondly recalled Kathy's tradition of greeting her dog by throwing herself on the kitchen floor to get on "dog level." As Midwestern transplants, they bonded over their roots, mutually supporting that perspective.

Kathy had an eclectic career —from teaching to real estate to dog sitting. Friends Michelle Briand and Cindy Halbett describe her as a voice of reason, a source of laughter and selfless.

Halbett highlighted a pandemic birthday visit as exemplifying Kathy's thoughtfulness, braving the cold to safely visit outside.

She helped neighbors, carrying out requests — collecting their mail, watering their plants or caring for their pets — without hesitation. Her neighbors called Kathy "the heart of Curtis Street," where she owned two condos since the early 1990s.

Many painted a portrait of Kathy as someone who understood that being a neighbor wasn't just about living in proximity; it was about extending a helping hand, sharing a moment of laughter, coming over for the holidays or offering solace during challenging times.

Born December 13, 1954 in Findlay, Ohio to Earl and Mary Streacker, she graduated from Findlay High School and earned a bachelor's degree in education from Miami University in Oxford, Ohio.

Kathy is survived by brothers Earl J. and Thomas L. Streacker, and sister Joann Walters. Kathy is predeceased by her parents and sister Helen Burrel.

A funeral Mass will be held on Monday, Oct. 2 at, 9 a.m. at Our Lady of Fatima Church, 50 Walsh Ave., Peabody, Massachusetts 01960.  In lieu of flowers, contributions in Kathy Streacker's memory can be made to the Northeast Animal Shelter, 347 Highland Ave., Salem, Massachusetts 01970. For more information or online guestbook, please visit www.MurphyFuneralHome.com