Catherine "Kay" Previte

LUNENBURG- Catherine F. (Carbone) Previte, 102, known to her many friends as "Kay," passed away on Saturday, October 4, 2025 in her home surrounded by her loving family. Kay was born in Melrose on July 31, 1923, a daughter of the late Nicholas and Mary (Rauseo) Carbone. She was a graduate of Wakefiled High School and the Katherine Gibbs Secretarial School in Boston. John Previte had returned from World War II where he had seen combat in the Pacific Theatre while serving his country in the US Navy. Soon after the war, John met Kay, fell in love, and married in September of 1946. They raised four daughters in the town of Wakefield and summered in Lunenburg in the home she and her husband John purchased in Hickory Hills in 1954. They eventually moved to Lunenburg full time when they both retired. When not following her first passion, which was playing cards with her extended family of siblings, children and many grandchildren, she dedicated her time to her second passion, which was flowers. Kay had developed her love and flair for floral design as a member of the Crystal Garden Club in Wakefield where she grew up, and she brought that talent with her as a member of the Laurelwood Garden Club in Fitchburg. She and Julia Casey, her dear friend for many years, combined their leadership, love of flowers and sense of community service to co-found the annual Art-in-Bloom fundraising event for the Fitchburg Art Museum, which has remained one of the museum's largest revenue sources since its inception 25 years ago. Kay was also very involved in the Lunenburg Senior Center, where she could be found staying mentally sharp by playing cribbage, bridge, Mahjong and helping with fundraising well into her nineties. She was recognized by the Lunenburg Council of Aging on her 100th birthday and was the first recipient of the town's Century Award. In addition to her many family and community activities, Kay and her husband enjoyed traveling together to numerous destinations in this hemisphere and Europe, enjoying the local cuisine and frequenting the beaches and casinos. A patron and pillar of the local community, Kay will be missed by all who knew and loved her. Her husband, John J. Previte, passed away in 2002. Kay leaves her four daughters, Elena Christopher and her husband Paul of Lunenburg, MaryAnne York of Beverly, Cathy Sullivan of Tyngsboro and Jean Perrone and her husband Sal of Billerica; a sister, Sylvia Bonomo and her husband, Anthony of Wakefield; ten grandchildren, fourteen great-grandchildren and many nieces and nephews, including Vicki Maskell of Boston. In addition to her husband, she is predeceased by a brother, Victor Carbone, a sister Priscilla Melanson and a son-in-law, John Sullivan. The funeral service will be held on Friday, October 10, at 12PM in the Anderson Funeral Home, 25 Fitchburg Rd., Ayer followed by a burial in the North Cemetery in Lunenburg. Calling hours in the funeral home will be held on Thursday, October 9, from 4 to 7PM. In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to the Fitchburg Art Museum, 185 Elm St. Fitchburg, MA 01420.