Catherine Walsh "Kay" Halpin

Halpin, Catherine Walsh "Kay"



Nov. 6, 1922 - May 10, 2014



Catherine "Kay" Walsh Halpin, of Venice, FL, died on May 10, 2014 surrounded by her loving husband and children. She was born in Troy, NY on November 6, 1922, the daughter of Matthew and Elizabeth (Quinn) Walsh. She attended the Convent of Mercy School in Rensselaer, NY and graduated from St. John's Academy, Renssselaer. In 1943 following graduation as a Registered Nurse at St. Peter's School of Nursing, in Albany, NY she was an operating room nurse at Albany Medical Center. She was commissioned an Ensign in the US Navy Nurse Corps, during WWII, serving in several Naval Hospitals in the Northeast until her honorable discharge in 1946. She did private duty nursing in the Albany, NY area after leaving military service.



She married Howard Halpin on October 2, 1948 at the Sacred Heart Church in Albany. Kay and Howard were born four days apart in the same nursery in Troy, NY in 1922. They moved to Burlington, VT in 1949 where they spent most of their family life. In Burlington, she was a member of Christ the King Parish and was active in Christ the King School and Rice Memorial High School PTOs. She worked with her daughter, Cathy, as VP in their business, Goldmine Jewelers, in Essex Junction, VT. She was a nurse at DeGoesbriand Hospital and the Medical Center Hospital of Vermont. She did volunteer work at Red Cross, Fanny Allen Hospital and Hospice of the Champlain Valley. In 1993 she moved with her husband, several of their children and the family business, Turbine Weld, Inc., to Venice, Florida. In the Venice Area she did volunteer work at the Venice Regional Hospital. She was a member of the American Legion, Navy Women Veterans, the Elks, Venice Golf and Country Club, Venice Yacht Club and Mission Valley Golf & Country Club. She was a member of the Epiphany Cathedral Parish.



Kay was a loving, dedicated mom, wife, nurse and community volunteer. As such, she taught and inspired her family by example. She is survived by Howard, her husband of 65 years and their eight children: Edmund (Ellen) of South Burlington, VT; Matthew (Patricia) of Pelham, NH; James (Deborah) of Fountain Hills, AZ; Thomas (Page) of Osprey, FL; Patrick (Laurie) of East Longmeadow, MA; Michael (Jeannie) of Nokomis, FL; Cathy Kuhlman (James) of Nokomis, FL and Elizabeth Laurenson (William) of Nokomis, FL. She is also survived by 20 grandchildren, 7 great grandchildren. She is also survived by many cousins, nieces and nephews; brother in law Thomas Halpin and sisters in law Ellen and Elizabeth Halpin.



She is predeceased by brother in law Chester Halpin.



A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at Epiphany Cathedral on Saturday, May 17, at 10:30 AM. Interment will be at Sarasota National Cemetery at a later date.



In lieu of flowers memorial donations may be made in her name to Rice Memorial High School of South Burlington, VT 05403 or to Tidewell Hospice, 5955 Rand Blvd., Sarasota, FL 34238.



To share a memory of Kay, visit www.farleyfuneralhome.com.