Kathy Hildebrandt was born on September 14, 1954, in Detroit, Michigan to parents Margaret and Wilbur Kasenow. She was born the third of five siblings. She grew up in Livonia, Michigan attending Livonia-Stevenson High School.

As an adult she worked various jobs including working at Fisher Body and Livonia Public Schools, before meeting her Husband Alan when they both worked as Taxi drivers.

She was married in 1988, and of this union was born three children: Michael, Travis, and Sean. She was a devoted mother who stayed at home with her boys for several years before being hired as a letter carrier at the Livonia Post Office, where she worked proudly until her retirement.

Throughout her life, Kathy was an animal lover. She always had several dogs, with her favorite breeds being Pomeranian and Jack Russell Terrier. She was preceded in death by her doggies Snowball, Chauncey, PJ, Popper, Misty Sue, Sally, Reggie, Krissy Kris, Shayna, Buster, Ebony, Sassy, Bosco, Maddie, Libby, Emma, and Zoey. She is survived by Finnegan, Ziggie, Stella, and Ladybug.

She loved music. She enjoyed attending concerts as well as listening wherever she was. Some of her favorite artists included Smokey Robinson, Cat Stevens, The Talking Heads, Joe Cocker, Tom Petty, Annie Lennox, The Barenaked Ladies, Johnny Winter, Buddy Guy, Amy Winehouse, and Jack White. She went to the Chicago Blues Festival with Alan multiple times and would often be seen in her autographed Buddy Guy leather Jacket that she had signed at his blues bar in Chicago.

In her later years, Kathy became more attuned to issues of social justice. She was not afraid to boisterously call out racism, sexism or other prejudice whenever she encountered it. She had multiple tattoos and bumper stickers proudly proclaiming her solidarity with the Black Lives Matter movement and other causes.

She was preceded in death by her parents, stillborn son Hayden, brother David, and husband Alan. She leaves behind her three children Michael Hildebrandt (Briana), Travis Hildebrandt (Alexandria), Sean Hildebrandt (Wendy), and 2 grandchildren Matthew and Isaiah Hildebrandt.