CATHERINE "KAY" McCAFFERTY

CATHERINE "KAY" McCAFFERTY

Passed away peacefully after a brief illness on Sunday, March 10th aged 81. Catherine, or “Kay” as she was known to many family and friends, was born on 1 September 1942 in the small village of Polranny in Achill Sound, County Mayo, Ireland. She was the daughter of the late Patrick Joseph Cafferkey Sr. and Catherine Gallagher.  Born with the surname Cafferkey, she later changed her name to McCafferty after coming to the U.S.

In 1963 she left her home in Ireland to immigrate to Cleveland and lived with the family of her brother Patrick Jr., and sister-in-law Sally Mangan in Westpark, Cleveland, and would call the neighborhood home for the rest of her life. One of her earliest jobs in Cleveland was at Sky Chef before moving to the Sheraton Hotel at Cleveland Hopkins Airport where she worked for over 35 years.  

Kay was an avid reader, baker, cook, and tea lover. She returned to her homeland of Ireland many times after she immigrated in addition to visiting family and friends in England. She was immensely proud of her Irish heritage and enjoyed telling stories of her youth in Polranny and Achill Sound. 

She was preceded in death by her parents Patrick Sr. and Catherine (nee Gallaher) and 4 siblings: Patrick Jr. (Sally), Thomas, Mary Ann Dorris (Charles) and Julia White (John), and a niece Kathleen Bryan (William). 

She is survived by two siblings, a brother John of England, and a sister Bridget Cafferkey of Ireland. 

Also surviving are 11 nieces and nephews in the U.S. and England that Kay adored so dearly: Patrick McCafferty III (Judith), Mary Ann Kemock (Ludimere), Martin McCafferty (Cindy), Owen McCafferty Sr. (Vicki), Sean McCafferty (Laraine), Mia Nash, Rosemary Wojakowski (John), Katherine Cafferkey, Martin Cafferkey, Kevin White (Diane), and Simone White. 

She will be dearly missed by her close friend Susan Durante and family along with her goddaughter Cathy Murphy Rath and family

Funeral Mass Tuesday, March 19, St. Mel Church (14436 Triskett Rd.) at 10:00 AM. Interment Holy Cross Cemetery. Friends may call at CHAMBERS FUNERAL HOME of CLEVELAND, 4420 ROCKY RIVER DR. AT PURITAS MONDAY 4-7 PM. 

In lieu of flowers, the family kindly suggests a donation to The Providence House, 2050 W. 32nd Street, Cleveland, OH 44113.