Obituary: Catherine M. 'Kitty' McDonald, 77, Salem Native

Catherine M. ‘Kitty’ McDonald, age 77, wife of the late Richard ‘Dick’ McDonald, passed away Monday, May 26th at home surrounded by her family. Born in Salem, daughter of the late Edmund and Katherine (Maguire) Carroll, she moved to Beverly in 1941 and resided on Kernwood Avenue for the remainder of her life.

Kitty was a graduate of St. Mary’s elementary and high school in Beverly where she made lifelong friends. She went on to study nursing at Boston College, Class of 1958, where she met her best friend Muriel Ann Holleran of Wakefield. Upon graduation from BC, she worked as a Registered Nurse for the Lynn Visiting Nurse Association. 

After her marriage, she and Dick lived happily for many years raising their family. Kitty’s home was the center her universe and she opened her home to all visitors - family, friends and stray animals. As her children grew, she returned to work as a Registered Nurse at the Twin Oaks Nursing Home in Danvers, MA. She worked there for 25 years until retiring to care for her husband. Kitty devoted her life to caring for other people. 

She found great delight in hearing all of her children’s escapades and she loved her daughter in law, sons-in-law, and granddaughters. She had a very special bond with her granddaughters and they equally loved their Grandma. Kitty was an avid sports fan, animal lover, and enjoyed a good political debate. She was fun, funny, and loved life. During her final years as she battled Alzheimer’s disease, she received extraordinary care from her daughter Kristin, and countless caregivers who had become a part of her extended family. The family would like to express gratitude to Partners Home Care, Care Dimensions, Lahey Health at Home, and Bring Care Home for the compassion and quality care they provided that allowed her to remain at home throughout her illness.

Kitty leaves her daughters, Kristin and Kelly McDonald of Beverly, her son Brian McDonald and his wife Ellen of Newton, four grandchildren, Caitlain, Meaghan, Alison, and Erin all of Newton; her brothers-in law Robert McDonald and his wife Jane Ellen of Salem, James McDonald and his wife Marie of Lynnfield, several nieces and nephews, many close family friends and wonderful caring neighbors. In addition to her husband and parents, she was predeceased by her sister Jane Town of West Peabody.

Her funeral will held on Saturday at 10:15 AM from the Murphy Funeral Home, 85 Federal St., (cor of North St) Salem to be followed by a funeral Mass at 11:00 A.M. in St. Thomas the Apostle Church, on the Salem Peabody Line. Relatives and friends are respectfully invited to attend. Visiting hours will be Friday in the Murphy Funeral Home from 5 to 8 P.M. Interment will be in St. Mary's Cemetery, Salem. In lieu of flowers those who wish may make memorial contributions to the Alzheimer's Association P.O. Box 96011 Washington, DC 20090-6011, Care Dimensions (formerly Hospice of the North Shore), 75 Sylvan Street, Ste. B-102, Danvers, MA 01923, or Northeast Animal Shelter 347 Highland Avenue Salem, MA 01970. For more information or online guest book call 978 744 0497 or visit www.MurphyFuneralHome.com