Obituary for Kathleen Imelda Donnelly (Brannigan)
It is with heavy hearts and great sorrow that the family announces the passing of their wife, mother, and grandmother at the age of 81 years. Beloved wife of 59 years of Allen Donnelly, mother of Johanna (Ian Nethercott) of Vancouver, Duane (Sandra Iacovetta) of Toronto, and dear grandmother of Conor, Sean, and Sophia. Kathleen was called to her Heavenly home to be in God’s company with those who have gone before. She was a kind, gentle, and loving woman with a wonderful Irish sense of humour, just a touch of devilishness, but most of all a great sense of love and respect for her fellow human beings.
Kathleen was a member of St. Paul’s Catholic Women’s League since 1967 and was instrumental in establishing the Legion of Mary in Coniston’s St. Paul the Apostle Parish at the request of Father Kaptein. She loved to sing and was member of the church choir for many years.
Born February 11, 1940, at 30 Glenmacoffer Road, Omagh, County Tyrone, Ireland, Kathleen was placed in an orphanage in Belfast, County Down, and Mary Brannigan, a widow from Seaforde, County Down, adopted Kathleen as a sister for her older daughter June. She lived in Seaforde until Mrs. Brannigan passed away and Kathleen subsequently emigrated to Canada at the invitation of her uncle, Joe Brannigan, arriving in Sudbury in May, 1960. She found employment with the Levine family as a nanny, who at the time owned Levine’s clothing store in Sudbury.
She met the love of her life Allen during Christmas 1960, at the home of her cousin Maureen and Kevin Keenan in Coniston. They exchanged vows in October, 1961 at the Church of Christ the King in Sudbury.
In addition to her husband, her children, their spouses, and her grandchildren, Kathleen will be sadly missed by her brother-in-law, sisters-in-law, and many nieces and nephews in New Brunswick, Ontario, Alberta, and British Columbia. She will also be sadly missed by cousins, nieces, and nephews in County Tyrone, where she and Allen visited a number of times, as well as many friends in Coniston. Kathleen loved children and cared for several in Coniston over the years, including Ellen Carscallen who, along with her children, was very close to Kathleen.
The family wishes to thank the CCAC support workers for helping care for Kathleen in her later years, and especially the wonderful staff at Extendicare Falconbridge for their friendship, kindness, comfort, and professionalism while she was in their care.
A funeral service will be held at Jackson and Barnard Funeral Home at 11:00am on Monday, May 24th, 2021. Due to COVID 19 restrictions the service will be private, but a memorial Mass will be held at St. Paul the Apostle Parish in Coniston at a later date, when circumstances permit, followed by interment of Kathleen’s ashes at St. John’s Cemetery in Garson.
In lieu of flowers, donations to either the Alzheimer Society Sudbury or St. Paul the Apostle Parish in Coniston, would be appreciated. For donations and messages of condolence, www.lougheedfuneralhomes.com.
Kathleen was a member of St. Paul’s Catholic Women’s League since 1967 and was instrumental in establishing the Legion of Mary in Coniston’s St. Paul the Apostle Parish at the request of Father Kaptein. She loved to sing and was member of the church choir for many years.
Born February 11, 1940, at 30 Glenmacoffer Road, Omagh, County Tyrone, Ireland, Kathleen was placed in an orphanage in Belfast, County Down, and Mary Brannigan, a widow from Seaforde, County Down, adopted Kathleen as a sister for her older daughter June. She lived in Seaforde until Mrs. Brannigan passed away and Kathleen subsequently emigrated to Canada at the invitation of her uncle, Joe Brannigan, arriving in Sudbury in May, 1960. She found employment with the Levine family as a nanny, who at the time owned Levine’s clothing store in Sudbury.
She met the love of her life Allen during Christmas 1960, at the home of her cousin Maureen and Kevin Keenan in Coniston. They exchanged vows in October, 1961 at the Church of Christ the King in Sudbury.
In addition to her husband, her children, their spouses, and her grandchildren, Kathleen will be sadly missed by her brother-in-law, sisters-in-law, and many nieces and nephews in New Brunswick, Ontario, Alberta, and British Columbia. She will also be sadly missed by cousins, nieces, and nephews in County Tyrone, where she and Allen visited a number of times, as well as many friends in Coniston. Kathleen loved children and cared for several in Coniston over the years, including Ellen Carscallen who, along with her children, was very close to Kathleen.
The family wishes to thank the CCAC support workers for helping care for Kathleen in her later years, and especially the wonderful staff at Extendicare Falconbridge for their friendship, kindness, comfort, and professionalism while she was in their care.
A funeral service will be held at Jackson and Barnard Funeral Home at 11:00am on Monday, May 24th, 2021. Due to COVID 19 restrictions the service will be private, but a memorial Mass will be held at St. Paul the Apostle Parish in Coniston at a later date, when circumstances permit, followed by interment of Kathleen’s ashes at St. John’s Cemetery in Garson.
In lieu of flowers, donations to either the Alzheimer Society Sudbury or St. Paul the Apostle Parish in Coniston, would be appreciated. For donations and messages of condolence, www.lougheedfuneralhomes.com.