Grandma Hattie and the Joy of Living Creatively

Kathy Houser AKA Grandma Hattie, photographed at her tea room, shows how every day is a special occasion worth celebrating.

To many at Cobblestone Arts Center, Kathy Houser is lovingly known as Grandma Hattie, a name that reflects her lasting influence on the community. This fall, Kathy was featured on the Snazzy & Sage podcast, hosted by Dr. Kerry Szymanski, a former second-grade student of Kathy’s. Their conversation, “Art, Entrepreneurship & Aging with Joy”, highlighted Kathy’s journey and her philosophy for living creatively at every stage of life. Kathy has inspired generations through a career rooted in education and the arts. She began her career as an art teacher before becoming a school principal, where she fostered creativity, confidence, and leadership among her students. Even after stepping away from formal education, her passion for teaching never faded. It simply evolved into new forms of creative expression and community involvement. 

Kathy’s connection to Cobblestone Arts Center runs deep. After returning to the Victor area from the Adirondacks, Kathy and her husband crossed paths with the family of Cobblestone’s Executive Director, Lorene Benson, née Flora. Kathy met Lorene when the latter was still in high school, and the two quickly became close friends. Kathy was a firsthand witness to Lorene founding Cobblestone Arts Center in 1983 and was among the first people invited to teach classes at the newly formed organization. Over the years, Kathy also served on Cobblestone’s Board of Directors, holding several leadership roles and helping guide the organization’s growth. Her commitment to Cobblestone’s mission has remained constant ever since.

One of Kathy’s most beloved contributions to Cobblestone is her Tea & Manners gatherings for adults with disabilities. Drawing on her passion for the tradition of formal tea service, which she brought back into focus by opening her own tea room in the Historic Dryer House in Victor, Kathy began sharing that experience with Cobblestone students. She would begin each gathering with a craft, serve a finger-sandwich lunch and a unique tea selection, and even bring along her collection of formal hats to encourage the students to treat the tea parties, and also their day to day life, as a special occasion. As Kathy says “Life is a celebration. Get dressed up and celebrate.” These tea parties focus on more than elegance; they teach manners, confidence, and respect. Kathy was delighted to hear from a Cobblestone bus driver recently that they can calm a noisy ride simply by reminding students to "remember what Grandma Hattie says about manners,” a testament to the lasting impact of her lessons. Kathy continues to lead tea gatherings at Cobblestone to this day for the DWOW group of students.

Kathy Houser’s story is a beautiful example of entering each new stage of life with joy, creativity, and purpose. Through teaching, volunteering, and creating, Grandma Hattie continues to remind us that art and community connection go hand in hand. 

Listen to Kathy's guest episode of the Snazzy & Sage podcast here.