Kathleen McArdle

Kathleen Joyce McArdle, 76, formerly of Port Chester, NY, and more recently Easton, MD, passed away on February 5, 2025, after a long battle with brain cancer.

Kathleen, known as Kathy to friends and as Sassy to many of her family members, was born on June 13, 1948, to John and Joyce Wind McArdle in Syracuse, NY. A 1966 graduate of Saint Mary's High School in Greenwich, CT, Kathy attended Salve Regina University in Newport, RI.

After graduating with a Bachelor of Science in Nutrition in 1970, Kathy built a distinguished 40+ year career in food service management and hospital administration. She later received a masters degree in nutrition from Syracuse University. Her interest in healthcare began as a candy striper in Greenwich, CT and her early career included staff dietician roles at Yale-New Haven and Crouse-Irving Memorial hospitals. She served as the Director of Food Service for more than 18 years at Loretto Health and Rehab in Syracuse before moving to Westchester County, NY, where she worked as an administrator at the Sarah Neuman Center and The New Jewish Home. A highly respected leader in hospital food service operations and management, Kathy held board leadership roles in the New York State Dietetic Association and Hospice of Westchester. Even after her retirement in 2018, she remained active as a consultant and educator.

The oldest of eleven children, Kathy played a central role in her family, acting as both a built-in mother's helper to her younger siblings and later as an active aunt, sister, and godmother. She was a guiding force, always present to help, encourage, and support the growing family.

Throughout her life, Kathy nurtured deep friendships through golf leagues, workout groups, the workplace, and neighborhood gazebo parties. She also maintained lifelong bonds with Girl Scout, high school, and college friends. Kathy was known for her creativity and energy-she never wasted a moment, always knitting, baking, sewing, or seeking out new ways to connect with friends. Her beloved dog, Max, was by her side until she could no longer care for him, at which point he was lovingly cared for by friends and later adopted by her sister's family.

Kathleen was predeceased by her parents, John and Joyce McArdle, and her sister, Christine McArdle. She is survived by her nine siblings: Patrick McArdle of Kent Island, MD; Timothy McArdle (Christine) of Farmington, NY; Terence McArdle (Gale), of Canandaigua, NY; Mary Ellen (Clinton Blume), of Newtown, CT; John McArdle of Williamsburg, VA; Moira (Parker Hampson) of Portland, OR; Cara McArdle of Woodbury, CT; Keely (Neel Pender) of Portland, OR; and Erin (Gregory Ziegler) of Chester, NJ. She also leaves behind 24 nieces and nephews, 18 great-nieces and nephews, and more than a dozen godchildren. Kathy shared a special bond with Martha Ryan and her family of Syracuse, NY as well as her cousin Maire McArdle of Easton. We also extend a heart-felt thank you to her exceptional caregivers in Easton, MD and the Talbot County Hospice team.

A celebration of life following internment will be held at Sergio's Saw Pit in Port Chester on Saturday, Feb 15 at 1:30 pm.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations in Kathy's memory be made to Hospice of Westchester at hospiceofwestchester.org.