Catherine M O'Connell

Catherine M. O’Connell,  of West Roxbury, formerly of Kells, Co. Kerry, Ireland, passed away on February 9, 2025 at The Ellis Rehabilitation and Nursing Center  in Norwood.  Beloved daughter of the late Michael and Mary (Galvin) O’Connell. Devoted aunt of Noreen Dillon and her husband Joseph of North Reading, Michael Connell and his wife Karen of CT, Jeanette Sullivan and her husband Chuck of Stoughton, Susan Bradley and her husband Vincent of Andover, Anne Sugrue and her husband Padraig of Athlone, Ireland, PJ Casey and his wife Siobhan of Dublin, Ireland, Eamonn Casey and his wife Fiona of Kerry, Ireland, Brendan Casey and his wife Orla of Limerick, Ireland and the late Geraldine Casey.  Loving sister of the late Patrick ‘Paddy’ O’ Connell, Joseph Connell, Sr. Rita O’ Connell, and Anne Casey.  Dear cousin of Mary Morley of Norwood, MA and Ann Allardi of Belmont, MA.  Also survived by many great nieces and nephews.

Catherine (Kathleen) was born and grew up in  Ireland, studied nursing in England and immigrated to Boston in 1964, where she worked in Boston hospitals and spent many years as a Labor and Delivery nurse at St. Elizabeth’s Hospital in Brighton. She also did some private nursing later in her career.   Kathleen settled in West Roxbury in the 1980’s and enjoyed the community, church services and parish events at St. Theresa’s and St. John’s, dances at the Irish Social Club, as well as listening to the ‘Irish Hour’ on WROL each Saturday and Sunday. She regularly made trips to Castle Island in South Boston, and enjoyed both walks with her beloved dog Kerry, as well as trips to the beach.   She had many friends as well as her family in the area and connecting with them on a regular basis was very important.  She loved traveling -- enjoyed cruises, trips across the U. S.  and Canada, visiting her sister in California, as well as traveling to Europe.  She most enjoyed going back to Ireland to her home in Kerry to reconnect with family and spend time during the summer helping on the farm while also exploring the sites of Ireland.  

Funeral from the Robert J. Lawler and Crosby Funeral Home, 1803 Centre St. WEST ROXBURY,  on Monday March 3rd at 9am followed by a Funeral Mass in St. John of Chrysostom Church, 4750 Washington St. West Roxbury at 10am. Relatives and friends are kindly invited.  Interment Private.  Visiting hours Sunday March 2nd from 4pm to 7pm in the Funeral Home.  In lieu of flowers, donations in memory of Catherine may be made to St. Jude’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis , TN 38105 or www.stjude.org. For guest book please visit www.lawlerfuneralhome.com

Catherine's funeral mass will be live-streamed and may be found on the church website www.stjohnchrysostom02132.org(click the youtube link, it will begin at the same time as the Mass).