Kathleen MAGOWAN

MAGOWAN, Kathleen

Kathleen Magowan, 87, of Simsbury, passed away on Wednesday, (August 17, 2011) while under hospice care at Mclean's. She was born in New York City but returned to her childhood home in Bolivia, where she lived until she was six. Her family moved to New York, where they resided until coming to Connecticut to make Simsbury their home in 1942. Kathleen attended Saint Joseph's College and graduated in the First Collegiate Nursing Class in 1947. She worked in the Pediatric Unit at Saint Francis Hospital for several years before deciding to become an elementary school teacher. She graduated with a Masters in Education from Hillyer College in 1953. While she never married or had children of her own, she had many children in her life. She taught first grade for the Simsbury Public Schools for a period of 35 years at Central, Belden and Squadron Line Schools. Many former students who still reside in the area fondly recall learning the three R's (reading, writing and arithmetic) from Miss Magowan. Kathleen retired from teaching in 1984 but stayed very active in the community as a volunteer for the Red Cross Blood Bank in addition to driving others to their doctors appointments or food shopping. She enjoyed her water exercise classes at Mclean, the exercise classes at Eno Memorial Hall and the wonderful monthly outings she shared with her friends. She was predeceased by her parents, William and Wilhelmina (Greener), her sister, Patricia Clark and her twin brother, Robert. She is survived by a niece, Kathleen Scheidemann of North Carolina, and nephews, John and Mark Clark, both of California. Her cheery disposition, talkative nature and wonderful personality will be dearly missed by many close friends and members of the community who came to know her. Many thanks are extended to the staff at Mclean's who took wonderful care of her in the final months and weeks of her life.
Friends may call at the Vincent Funeral Home, 880 Hopmeadow Street in Simsbury on Monday, August 22nd from 5-7 p.m. A Mass of Christian Burial will take place on Tuesday, (August 23rd), 10 a.m. at St. Mary's Church, 942 Hopmeadow Street, Simsbury. Burial will immediately follow in the Simsbury Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Central School, 29 Massaco Street, Simsbury, CT 06070, in memory of Kathleen for the purpose of the Central School 100th Year Anniversary. Please visit www.vincentfuneralhome.com for online condolences.