Mrs. Katherine A. "Kay" McCabe

OBITUARY Katherine A. McCabe “Kay” Beloved Mother, Grandmother and Great Grandmother LOWELL—Katherine A. “Kay” (Neylon) McCabe passed away peacefully at her home, Friday morning, February 10, 2017. Kay had just recently celebrated her 97th birthday. She was the devoted wife of Patrick R. McCabe, Sr. who died on February 9, 2008. Katherine was born in Lowell on January 25, 1920, one of five children born to Thomas F. and Catherine (McCarthy) Neylon. Kay was a graduate of the Sacred Heart Grammar School and Lowell High School, Class of 1938. Kay married Patrick McCabe on June 12, 1943 at the Sacred Heart Church, and together they raised eight children and celebrated 64 years of marriage. Kay was a lifelong parishioner of the Sacred Heart Church, until its closing. She then became a communicant of St. Margaret Church. The foundation of Kay’s life was built on three principals: Family, Church, and Friends. Her large family was her purpose and her strength and she was deeply devoted to them. Her devout faith in God guided her life, and her many friends became “family” which she chose. Kay and Pat had a great group of friends that they made many fond memories with. “The Girls” were Kay’s group of best friends that were ever present. As a group, they enjoyed countless excursions, but more importantly, they were always there when one of their own needed them. Kay was a stay at home mother, raising her children and taking exceptional care of her husband Pat. Her house was always filled with love, and children. As her family grew, her house was filled with grandchildren, and later great grandchildren. Nana took care of many of them, and attended all of their sporting events, school shows, dance recitals, and graduations. She was blessed to be a part of their weddings and the births of 30 great grandchildren. She loved her grandchildren’s spouses like her own. Kay enjoyed being Irish. She loved her many trips to Ireland. Kay was never afraid to give you her honest opinion, and more often than not, you were wiser for the taking. She loved Irish music and St. Patrick’s Day Celebrations with her family. Kay loved a “Good Wake” in true Irish fashion, and would always send a meal for family events, in times of sorrow as well as celebration. Kay and Pat enjoyed many years of family vacations at Seabrook Beach. When her family was grown, Kay worked in the kitchen of Johnny’s Bench making lunches. Kay had her way of altering the menu during Lenten Fridays if the patron happened to be Catholic! Kay and her family and friends also enjoyed many, many wonderful meals at Good Thymes Restaurant. Kay was the Ambassador of Good Thymes. For her children and her grandchildren, Nana was a nurturer, a provider, a teacher and a best friend and confidant. Her advice was valued. She knew what everybody needed, without ever having to ask her for it. Kay was very proud of the family she made and was always there to celebrate life’s victories and wipe away the tears that life’s struggles occasionally bring. Her legacy lives on in the lives of her children and grandchildren. The joy she brought will be a lasting memory, and, a gentle force to continue to do all of the things she taught all of us. A life important to others is a life well lived. Mrs. McCabe is survived by her eight children and their spouses, Robert McCabe, L.F.D. Ret. and his wife Mary Ellen (Shine) McCabe of Chelmsford, Mary (McCabe) Gill and her husband Ed of Chelmsford, Kathleen (McCabe) McDonough and her husband Perry of Methuen, Deputy Chief Patrick R. McCabe, Jr., L.F.D. Ret. and his wife Janice (Cosma) McCabe of Lowell, Lieutenant Stephen McCabe, L.F.D. Ret. and his wife Kathleen (Deter) McCabe of Lowell, Thomas McCabe and his wife Patricia (Mahoney) McCabe of Chelmsford, Elisabeth (McCabe) Bullock and her husband Robert of Lakewood, Ohio, and Meghan (McCabe) Coughlin and her husband Patrick of Lowell; twenty five grandchildren, James McCabe and his wife Maura, Michael McCabe and his wife Kaitlyn, Ellen (McCabe) Geary and her husband Stephen, Andrew McCabe and his wife Erin, Mark Gill and his wife Jane, Mary Kate (Gill) Amos and her husband Scott, Brendan Gill and his wife Megan, Michael McDonough, Annie McDonough, Mary Beth McCabe and her husband Ryan Gilday, Amanda (McCabe) Gomez and her husband Oscar, Molly McCabe, Scott McCabe, Robert McCabe, Ryan McCabe and his wife Ashley, Joshua McCabe and his wife Mary, Kelsey (McCabe) Shibilia and her husband Daniel, Patrick McCabe, L.F.D., Thomas McCabe, Caeli McCabe, Phillip Bullock, Maren Bullock, Katy Coughlin, Maura Coughlin and Patrick Coughlin; 30 great grandchildren; her sister-in-law Mary Neylon, and her dear cousin Rita Kirwin; many nieces and nephews that all held special places in her heart, the Neylons, the McCabes, the Durkins the Phelps, the Gormans and the Foleys. Kay was the mother-in-law of the late Joanne (Boland) McCabe. Kay was also the sister of the late Mary Gorman, Alice Phelps, Claire Durkin, Tom Neylon and sister-in law of the late John Gorman, Edward Phelps, Brendan Durkin, and Rev. Henry McCabe, OMI, Rev. Hugh McCabe, OMI, Edward I. and Katherine (Fay) McCabe, Terrence and Shirley McCabe, Francis and Mildred McCabe and Mary and James Foley. FUNERAL NOTICE McCABE—In Lowell, February 10, 2017 at her home, Katherine A. (Neylon) McCabe, 97, the beloved wife of the late Patrick R. McCabe, Sr. Family and friends may call at the FAY McCABE FUNERAL HOME, 105 MOORE STREET, LOWELL on TUESDAY from 3 until 8 PM. Mrs. McCabe’s Funeral will begin on WEDNESDAY MORNING at 8:45 am from the Funeral Home, followed by her Funeral Mass at 10 o’clock at St. Margaret Church, 374 Stevens St. Lowell. Burial will follow in St. Patrick Cemetery. As an expression of sympathy, Kay’s family has asked that donations in her memory be made to St. Margaret Parish Renovation Fund, 374 Stevens St. Lowell, MA 01851 or to The Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF) 60 Walnut Street, Wellesley, MA 02481 (www.jdrf.org/newengland) or to The Sisters of St. Mary of Namur Memorial Fund, 241 Lafayette Ave, Buffalo, NY 14213. ARRANGEMENTS BY THE FAY McCABE FUNERAL DIRECTORS 978-459-9222 www.faymccabe.com

Mrs. Katherine A. "Kay" McCabe

January 25, 1920 - February 10, 2017