CLEVELAND, Ohio - Former Fox 8 reporter Kathleen Cochrane DePiero died unexpectedly Saturday following a brief illness, the station reports.

DePiero, 38, leaves behind her husband Dean - the former mayor of Parma - and two children, 7-year-old son Blake and 5-year-old daughter Hadley, Fox 8 reports. The station learned of her death Sunday morning.

Andy Fishman, the news director at Fox 8, did not give further comment on DePiero's death Sunday afternoon and directed cleveland.com to a statement posted on the station's Facebook page.

"We are heartbroken to share with you the news that our beloved, former colleague, Kathleen Cochrane DePiero, has passed away," the statement says. "Our hearts are with her family and friends at this time."

DePiero started at Fox 8 in 2005 yet stepped away from her career to spend more time with her children several years later, Fox 8 reports. She re-joined the Fox 8 crew to do special reporting for Tribune stations during the 2016 Republican National Convention in Cleveland.

"Working with Kathleen was joyous, always, as her smile lit up the newsroom," the Fox 8 story announcing DePiero's death states. "She was a hard-working, determined and thorough employee."

Area news anchors and former coworkers shared their condolences to the DePiero family on social media.

Yes, we are friendly with people at competing tv stations. A surprise to many viewers.

Few competitors were kinder, smarter and more professional than Kathleen Cochrane DePiero who worked @fox8news for many years. She passed away this weekend. Deep condolences to her family. pic.twitter.com/PfC32IWyFm — Chris Tye (@TVTye) December 31, 2017

The loss of Kathleen is absolutely stunning and heartbreaking!!! I’m gonna miss her unique and quirky... https://t.co/kZqW2SODoY — SUZANNE STRATFORD (@SuzStratford) December 31, 2017

I’m so incredibly sad to hear this, Kathleen was a friend and former coworker at Fox 8 News. My heart breaks for... https://t.co/YA35nIABoj — Mark Zinni (@MarkZinni) December 31, 2017

Clevelanders and others nationwide may remember DePiero from a report she did 10 years ago where she was attacked by a cat on live TV. Clips of the unexpected event and what happened in the aftermath have millions of views on YouTube.