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BORN

1924

DIED

2017

FUNERAL HOME

William G. Miller & Son Funeral Home, Inc.

371 Hooker Avenue

Poughkeepsie, New York

Katherine DuSault Obituary

Katherine C. DuSault

POUGHKEEPSIE - Katherine C. DuSault, nee Britt, passed away peacefully on February 21, 2017 after a brief illness. Born on September 23, 1924 in Brooklyn, New York, Katherine was the daughter of two Irish immigrants, Matthew and Bridget Britt, and had one brother, Thomas Britt, all of whom have predeceased her. After high school, determined to go to college, Katherine obtained a Cello scholarship to enable her to go to Ladycliff College in Highland, New York, where she graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in English. Following graduation, she for a brief period was a teacher at a high school in Bridgewater, New York, before returning to New York City to attend Fordham University for her master's degree. In the course of her undergraduate and graduate school education, Katherine became involved in theater and acted in numerous productions, and performed in summer stock in Maine.

Just shy of completing her master's degree, Katherine's plans for theater and life in the city changed abruptly when she needed to move to Poughkeepsie to help care for her father. Katherine worked in the radio station in Peekskill, where she was an announcer, radio personality, copywriter, and jack-of-all-trades. She then took on the position of copywriter in the advertising department of Luckey Platt in Poughkeepsie. She met and married the love of her life, Roland DuSault, who predeceased her. With Roland, she raised six children and enthusiastically strived to create for them a magical childhood at their family home on Ridgeview Road in Poughkeepsie. While raising her family, Katherine somehow managed to continue to write - short stories and plays - and stay active with theater. She was very actively involved in C.E.R.T., a repertory theater group that performed in the schools, and was a substitute teacher in the Arlington School district. She also worked in the dietician department of Vassar Hospital, was a docent at Young Morse Historic Site for a number of years, and took to travel and photography - with her photographs appearing in a number of shows in the area.

Throughout her "29 plus" years of life, Katherine remained intrigued and delighted by beauty in the arts, the outdoors around her and the personalities of people she met, and always quick to charm and enjoy the silly and the whimsical. She is survived by her six children, Matthew, Christopher, Gregory, Marie, Jackie, and Anne ("Nancy"), sons-in-law, Christopher and Michael, and four grandchildren, Conor, Brett, Andre and Remy, and Irish cousins in the New York City area, Ireland and Norway, as well as the McCormack clan of nieces and nephew (and their spouses and children) in California.

A funeral mass will be held at 9:30 a.m. Saturday, March 4, 2017, at St. Martin de Porres Church, 118 Cedar Valley Road, Poughkeepsie, NY.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you share your favorite thoughts, memories or quotes of Katherine with them, if you'd like, by sending an e-mail to [email protected]. Arrangements are under the direction of Wm. G. Miller & Son FH, Inc., 371 Hooker Ave., Poughkeepsie, NY 12603.

Published by Poughkeepsie Journal from Mar. 1 to Mar. 3, 2017.
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Memories and Condolences
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Nancy DuSault

Daughter

May 20, 2017

I have known "Kai" since sometime in early 1988, having met her and her husband Roland while dating their daughter Marie.

As fate would have it, I would go on to to marry Marie, and several years later Kai became grandmother (aka "Mima" - pronounced Mee'-mah) to my sons Conor and Brett.

Although she was no longer my mother-in-law when she passed away on Feb 21st, I remained extremely fond of her, and held her in the greatest level of respect. Ever the kind, gracious and God-loving individual, she was a modern-day "Renaissance Woman", and those whose lives she touched - including mine - will remember her forever.

Todd Jennings

March 7, 2017

Kay and I were friends since early 1940's; we were maids of honors for each other's weddings and godparents to each other's children. She was a wonderful friend; I will always remember her.

Mary Cox

March 5, 2017

I recall driving up to the house once and seeing Mrs. DuSault out front, raking leaves with Cola dashing through the leaf piles, sending them flying. Instead of scolding her, she just laughed at her sweet and silly dog.

Mrs. DuSault always welcomed me into her home graciously, warmly and genuinely. I simply can't remember her without a smile on her face. She was a kind, decent, loving person. I am so sad that she is gone.

Condolences to Matt, Chris, Greg, Marie, Jackie, Nancy. Though many years have passed since I've seen you, please know you are in my thoughts.

Donna Lenhart

March 3, 2017

I grew up across the street from Mrs DuSault on Ridgeview road. It's a small wooded street, but had large families in many of the homes. Kids would ride their bikes through wooded paths and play softball at the dead end, we would build tree forts and make huge leaf piles in the Fall. We would sing christmas carols to our neighbors and plan great costumes for Halloween.

However, we would also find ourselves spending hours and hours of play time at her home - a home already filled with six kids of her own. We would horse around both inside and out, causing as much mischief and chaos and fun as kids can - often taking over her kitchen to make cookies or homemade granola (still the best I've ever had).

Mrs DuSault always welcomed us in with a warm smile and gave us the freedom to be ourselves. Such a huge gift as a child.

I am so grateful for her generosity and selflessness - and now understand why her home was the one we all migrated toward. She helped shape who I am and will truly be missed. I know she will continue to live through each and every one of us and send all my love and condolences to her family.

Susan Maserjian

March 2, 2017

My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family. ((Hugs))

Nicole Oliva

March 2, 2017

My deepest condolences to you and your family. May the Lord give you strength and guidance to help you through this most difficult time.

Andrea Masri

March 1, 2017

When I was kindergarten, I was instructed walk to the DuSault's house across the street from my own on days my mother was not home. Despite having six children of her own, Mrs. DuSault always had time to spend with me. I wasn't aware then of how she might have been enjoying some quiet time alone before her own children came home from school on the full-day bus.

I valued my time alone with her. She had a soothing voice and a calmness about her that I found extraordinarily comforting. Mrs. DuSault would ask me about my day, listening patiently while I'd tell her of crafts we'd made in school that day. Sometimes we'd make our own. My favorites were the hats we'd make out of old Poughkeepsie Journal newspapers. There was a folded one that sat on my head like a crown, but the one I loved the most was shaped like a wizard's hat, although my sisters would call it the dunce cap. It was rolled, rather than folded, and it sat like an upside down cone on top of my head. If it was made from the color Sunday comics I'd be so excited that I would not take it off the rest of the day, until my mother made me remove it at dinner time.

One afternoon, Mrs. DuSault left me alone in her kitchen for a few minutes phone started ringing. I reached up to get the receiver.
Hello, I answered.
Hi. Is your mother there? a strangers voice replied.
My mother? I asked. No.
Ok then. I'll call back later.
Mrs. DuSault came running in from the other room.
Did you pick up the phone, Dear?
Yes, I replied.
Who was it? she asked.
I dunno. Somebody looking for my mother.
Oh, she laughed. Well, I think maybe they might have been looking for me.

So at home, I'd become unaware of the distinction between my house and hers. I quickly realized I had done something terribly wrong, that she had missed a call because of me. Mrs. DuSault must have seen the panic in my face.

It's okay, Dear, she smiled. I'm sure they'll call back, she said, ever patient, ever kind.

When I was still quite young, Nancy once showed me a photograph of her mother when she was an aspiring actress in New York City. I was struck by the beautiful portrait of her and was curious about it, about the image of Mrs. DuSault before she was Nancy's mother. I wondered what kind of life she had in New York City before her life on Ridgeview Road.

I was so fortunate to have her as a neighbor throughout my life, to get to know who she was and to learn about her in the years to come her involvement in the arts, he writing of short stories, her ties to theater. She shared her photographic interests with me and always remained inquisitive and interested in my own creative and business pursuits. She missed no opportunities to tell me how happy she was for any of my accomplishments, both a child and as an adult. She sincerely enjoyed hearing of others' passions and pursuits while modestly sharing her own. I'm not sure I've ever met anyone as sincerely encouraging as her. I remain inspired by her curiosity and investigation of life and the arts. She showed me what it was to pursue your interests and to share them, for no reason other than the joy of knowing and learning. Her generous spirit truly lives on with all of us whose lives she touched.

Steven Maserjian

March 1, 2017

My deepest condolences to Matt, family and friends of Mrs. DuSault. May she Rest in Peace.

Brian Terralavoro

March 1, 2017

Our deepest sympathy to the family May we find comfort at Psalms chapter forty six verse one GOD is a refuge and strength a help that is readily found

March 1, 2017

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Funeral Mass

9:30 a.m.

St. Martin de Porres Church

118 Cedar Valley Road, Poughkeepsie, NY

Funeral services provided by:

William G. Miller & Son Funeral Home, Inc.

371 Hooker Avenue, Poughkeepsie, NY 12603

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