Obituary for Kathleen Dunn (McCarthy)
Kathleen (McCarthy) Dunn, 85, of Berlin, cherished wife, Mom, Grandma, aunt, friend and nurse, passed into eternal life on Thursday January 4 from her home, in the loving presence of Dick Dunn, her beloved husband of 60 years, and her devoted children and grandchildren. In addition to Dick, Kathie’s love lives on in their children Rich and Anne Dunn of Berlin, Bill Dunn of New Britain, Mike and Kathleen Dunn of Wethersfield, and Tim and Erin Dunn of Glastonbury, and their grandchildren Liam, Shannon, McKenna, Maeve, Ciara, Fiona, Shelia, Kevin, Michael, Maggie, Sean, Matthew, Aidan, Julia, Mary and Grady. Kathie also leaves behind her brothers and sisters in law Bob Oliva, Marianne Burnett, and Judy and Ed O’Brien.
The youngest of the McCarthys of Edgemere Ave. and St. Mark’s Church in West Hartford, Kathie was born on November 16, 1938. After graduating Mount Saint Joseph’s in 1956, Kathie earned her RN at the Saint Francis Hospital School of Nursing in 1959. On a wonderfully fateful day, her big brother Jimmy mooched a ride from UConn Law classmate Dick Dunn, who’d recently decided the priesthood wasn’t for him. When he stood up to shake Kathie’s hand and thank her for what must have been one heck of a tuna sandwich, it was love at first sight.
Kathie and Dick were married at Saint Mark’s on August 24, 1963. A year and a week later, Kathie gave birth to their first-born Rich, followed by Bill, Mike and Tim, whom they raised from their Wethersfield home centered around family, faith, food and fun. Whether turning her kitchen into the Cote Bakery making every kind of pie with her mom, or cooking delicious Sunday pot roasts for three generations of family or for some of her patients, Kathie spread her kindness through her easy hospitality, and even easier laugh. Kathie continued to minister at Saint Francis, where she was an integral part of the rehab team, announcing before work each morning: “I’m off to save lives and stamp out disease!” The consummate nurse, Kathie had a unique gift for serving her patients with compassion and care to comfort them when they were most vulnerable, and some became lifelong friends. As a Grandma, she delighted in spending time with her grandchildren, and every visit or call ended with her saying how special you are and how blessed and lucky she was.
But above all else, Kathie and Dick have a love story for the ages. To the day she died she kept by her side her prayer book Dick had given her on Valentine’s Day 1961, just weeks after they’d started dating. Whether walking side-by-side through life’s ups and downs, or sitting side-by-side over cheese and crackers, their love turned each day into a rosary of constant companionship and a Sacramental model for living out every word of their wedding vows.
Kathie is predeceased by her parents, Bill and Alice McCarthy, her siblings and in-laws Mary Anne and Joe Skelly, Alice Oliva, Reverend William J. McCarthy, Jimmy McCarthy and Donald Burnett, and her nephews Stephen Skelly and Kevin Oliva and great-nephew Luke Dunn.
The entire Dunn family extends our deep gratitude to the many friends and family who have shared Kathie’s journey and lifted her in prayer. We also thank and hold up in prayer wonderful and caring hospital and hospice staff and health care workers everywhere. Family and friends are invited to pay their respects and celebrate Kathie’s life on Tuesday, January 9 from 4:00-7:00 p.m. at the Farley-Sullivan Funeral Home, 34 Beaver Road, Wethersfield, and at a Mass of Resurrection on Wednesday, January 10 at 10:00 a.m. at the Church of the Incarnation, 544 Prospect Street, Wethersfield. Attendees are asked to proceed directly to the church. Burial to follow in Rose Hill Memorial Park, 580 Elm St. Rocky Hill. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Sisters of St. Joseph 27 Park Road West Hartford. To leave condolences or for further information, please visit www.FarleySullivan.com.
The youngest of the McCarthys of Edgemere Ave. and St. Mark’s Church in West Hartford, Kathie was born on November 16, 1938. After graduating Mount Saint Joseph’s in 1956, Kathie earned her RN at the Saint Francis Hospital School of Nursing in 1959. On a wonderfully fateful day, her big brother Jimmy mooched a ride from UConn Law classmate Dick Dunn, who’d recently decided the priesthood wasn’t for him. When he stood up to shake Kathie’s hand and thank her for what must have been one heck of a tuna sandwich, it was love at first sight.
Kathie and Dick were married at Saint Mark’s on August 24, 1963. A year and a week later, Kathie gave birth to their first-born Rich, followed by Bill, Mike and Tim, whom they raised from their Wethersfield home centered around family, faith, food and fun. Whether turning her kitchen into the Cote Bakery making every kind of pie with her mom, or cooking delicious Sunday pot roasts for three generations of family or for some of her patients, Kathie spread her kindness through her easy hospitality, and even easier laugh. Kathie continued to minister at Saint Francis, where she was an integral part of the rehab team, announcing before work each morning: “I’m off to save lives and stamp out disease!” The consummate nurse, Kathie had a unique gift for serving her patients with compassion and care to comfort them when they were most vulnerable, and some became lifelong friends. As a Grandma, she delighted in spending time with her grandchildren, and every visit or call ended with her saying how special you are and how blessed and lucky she was.
But above all else, Kathie and Dick have a love story for the ages. To the day she died she kept by her side her prayer book Dick had given her on Valentine’s Day 1961, just weeks after they’d started dating. Whether walking side-by-side through life’s ups and downs, or sitting side-by-side over cheese and crackers, their love turned each day into a rosary of constant companionship and a Sacramental model for living out every word of their wedding vows.
Kathie is predeceased by her parents, Bill and Alice McCarthy, her siblings and in-laws Mary Anne and Joe Skelly, Alice Oliva, Reverend William J. McCarthy, Jimmy McCarthy and Donald Burnett, and her nephews Stephen Skelly and Kevin Oliva and great-nephew Luke Dunn.
The entire Dunn family extends our deep gratitude to the many friends and family who have shared Kathie’s journey and lifted her in prayer. We also thank and hold up in prayer wonderful and caring hospital and hospice staff and health care workers everywhere. Family and friends are invited to pay their respects and celebrate Kathie’s life on Tuesday, January 9 from 4:00-7:00 p.m. at the Farley-Sullivan Funeral Home, 34 Beaver Road, Wethersfield, and at a Mass of Resurrection on Wednesday, January 10 at 10:00 a.m. at the Church of the Incarnation, 544 Prospect Street, Wethersfield. Attendees are asked to proceed directly to the church. Burial to follow in Rose Hill Memorial Park, 580 Elm St. Rocky Hill. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Sisters of St. Joseph 27 Park Road West Hartford. To leave condolences or for further information, please visit www.FarleySullivan.com.