Kathleen Marie Dietrich (Weston), 87, died peacefully on December 18, 2025. Kathy was known for her devotion to the Catholic Church, her love for her family & friends, and her dedication to the children she served, both before and during her long career with the Massachusetts Department of Social Services (DSS).
Her anchor was her Catholic faith, always welcoming priests for dinner, volunteering by helping youth at St. Mary’s in Holliston, MA, founding the Youth Center at St. Mary’s, teaching kindergarten at the Congregational Church, Teaching CCD, feeding the poor at San Antonio Catholic Church in Punta Gorda, FL, and even holding Mass in her home during the blizzard of '78 when neighbors couldn’t travel. Hers was a quiet devotion, believing that actions spoke louder than words.
Born and raised in Upper Darby, PA, Kathy was a straight-A student from St. Lawrence Academy, Holy Child Academy, Rosemont College (’59 Bachelor of Arts, Biology), Nursing school, and later earned her Master's of Social Work (MSW) at Framingham State University. Kathy was a spirited member of her class, managing “The Tigers” girls' basketball team, performing Beethoven’s Sonata in F Major at a talent show, participating in the art club, and serving as Prom Chairman on multiple occasions.
A blind date during her Junior year at Rosemont sealed her fate, leading to over 64 years of marriage to her beloved “Jerry.” Kathy and Jerry loved theatre and went on many dates to see "The Tempest," "Our Town" and many stage performances. Their shared devotion to the Catholic Church was the foundation of their beautiful marriage, highlighted by their four children born over 18 years! After retirement, the two moved to the Gulf Coast of Florida. Here, they went on nature adventures, marveling at the unique wildlife, particularly the Sandhill cranes.
The sun rose and set on her kids, and even as you were leaving to head back from their Florida home, she would ask, “when are you coming to visit next”? She was always 100% present in her conversations with you, making you feel like you were the only person in the room. She truly wanted to listen to whatever you had to say for hours.
Kathy’s career started at Wyeth Labs, but her calling was working with disadvantaged children. This passion was manifested in her desire to foster inner-city children through the “Fresh Air” program offered by St. Mary’s Church. Wanting to do more, she focused her attention on longer-term fostering. The bonds she formed through fostering children encouraged her to pursue a Master's in Social Work and to help hundreds of children through DSS services. She loved to tell long stories about her work at DSS with pride and true love for the kids she helped.
Her health frequently tested her positive outlook on life. Even in the face of long-standing adversity, her outlook on life remained overwhelmingly positive, leaving a lasting impact on all who were fortunate to know her. Despite her health, she exuded incredible resilience and grit, but her warm and outwardly positive attitude was most remarkable to everyone she met. She quickly made lifelong friends wherever she called home, whether in Upper Darby, PA, Holiston, MA, Dayton, OH, Medfield, MA, or Punta Gorda, FL. Four of those friends, Mary Lou Kugler, Eileen Hartnet, Joan Van Winkle, and Mary Johnson, who loved to go to Ocean City, NJ, in the Summer to hang out at the Chatterbox Grill.
She is survived by her loving husband, Jerry (Gerard) Dietrich, of 64 years, and her children, Francis Dietrich (Heidi), Andrew (Christina), Andrea Murray (Brendan), Michael Dietrich, and Philip Cavanaugh, who is like a son to both Kathy and Jerry. Much beloved, too, are her grandchildren, James, Kristina, Andrew, Katie, and Joseph, as well as many nieces and nephews. Kathy was preceded in death by her beloved brother, David, and we take comfort in knowing they are reunited in heaven.
Service arrangements are pending and will be announced at a later date.
Her anchor was her Catholic faith, always welcoming priests for dinner, volunteering by helping youth at St. Mary’s in Holliston, MA, founding the Youth Center at St. Mary’s, teaching kindergarten at the Congregational Church, Teaching CCD, feeding the poor at San Antonio Catholic Church in Punta Gorda, FL, and even holding Mass in her home during the blizzard of '78 when neighbors couldn’t travel. Hers was a quiet devotion, believing that actions spoke louder than words.
Born and raised in Upper Darby, PA, Kathy was a straight-A student from St. Lawrence Academy, Holy Child Academy, Rosemont College (’59 Bachelor of Arts, Biology), Nursing school, and later earned her Master's of Social Work (MSW) at Framingham State University. Kathy was a spirited member of her class, managing “The Tigers” girls' basketball team, performing Beethoven’s Sonata in F Major at a talent show, participating in the art club, and serving as Prom Chairman on multiple occasions.
A blind date during her Junior year at Rosemont sealed her fate, leading to over 64 years of marriage to her beloved “Jerry.” Kathy and Jerry loved theatre and went on many dates to see "The Tempest," "Our Town" and many stage performances. Their shared devotion to the Catholic Church was the foundation of their beautiful marriage, highlighted by their four children born over 18 years! After retirement, the two moved to the Gulf Coast of Florida. Here, they went on nature adventures, marveling at the unique wildlife, particularly the Sandhill cranes.
The sun rose and set on her kids, and even as you were leaving to head back from their Florida home, she would ask, “when are you coming to visit next”? She was always 100% present in her conversations with you, making you feel like you were the only person in the room. She truly wanted to listen to whatever you had to say for hours.
Kathy’s career started at Wyeth Labs, but her calling was working with disadvantaged children. This passion was manifested in her desire to foster inner-city children through the “Fresh Air” program offered by St. Mary’s Church. Wanting to do more, she focused her attention on longer-term fostering. The bonds she formed through fostering children encouraged her to pursue a Master's in Social Work and to help hundreds of children through DSS services. She loved to tell long stories about her work at DSS with pride and true love for the kids she helped.
Her health frequently tested her positive outlook on life. Even in the face of long-standing adversity, her outlook on life remained overwhelmingly positive, leaving a lasting impact on all who were fortunate to know her. Despite her health, she exuded incredible resilience and grit, but her warm and outwardly positive attitude was most remarkable to everyone she met. She quickly made lifelong friends wherever she called home, whether in Upper Darby, PA, Holiston, MA, Dayton, OH, Medfield, MA, or Punta Gorda, FL. Four of those friends, Mary Lou Kugler, Eileen Hartnet, Joan Van Winkle, and Mary Johnson, who loved to go to Ocean City, NJ, in the Summer to hang out at the Chatterbox Grill.
She is survived by her loving husband, Jerry (Gerard) Dietrich, of 64 years, and her children, Francis Dietrich (Heidi), Andrew (Christina), Andrea Murray (Brendan), Michael Dietrich, and Philip Cavanaugh, who is like a son to both Kathy and Jerry. Much beloved, too, are her grandchildren, James, Kristina, Andrew, Katie, and Joseph, as well as many nieces and nephews. Kathy was preceded in death by her beloved brother, David, and we take comfort in knowing they are reunited in heaven.
Service arrangements are pending and will be announced at a later date.
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