Kathleen Kilbride

Kathleen “Kathy” Kilbride, 76, of Huger, SC and formerly of Southington, CT, passed away peacefully surrounded by loved ones on Friday, October 24, 2025. She was the beloved wife of John J. Kilbride for 53 years.

Kathy was born on December 9, 1948, in Queens, NY, to the late James and Margaret (Cronin) Keenan. The oldest of six children, she was a natural leader and caretaker, always looking out for her younger siblings.

After John returned home from serving in the United States Marine Corps, fate brought them together through a thoughtful introduction by her colleague and John’s cousin. That meeting marked the beginning of a lifelong partnership.

Kathy was a visionary, entrepreneur, and the proud co-founder of Structural Technologies in Plantsville, CT. For nearly two decades, she and her late business partner, Skip Prunier, led the company with innovation and integrity, delivering engineered solutions for some of Connecticut’s largest steel construction projects.

Outside of work, Kathy embraced life fully. She had a lifelong passion for creating beautiful spaces, pouring her creativity into home décor and design projects that reflected her impeccable taste and eye for detail. She also cherished the camaraderie of her weekly mahjong game, a tradition she enjoyed for over thirty years.

In addition to her husband, John, Kathy is survived by her son, Sean Kilbride and his wife Kate Kilbride of Southington; her daughter, Jeannine Kilbride of Norwalk; son James Kilbride of Charleston, SC; her grandchildren, Fiona and Declan Kilbride, the light of her eye; her brother, Jimmy Keenan and her sisters, Diane Murphy and Marguerite Shea. Kathy was predeceased by two brothers, Kevin Keenan and Patrick Keenan.

Kathy will always be remembered for her unwavering love for family, her entrepreneurial spirit, and her ability to bring beauty and joy into every space she touched.

In lieu of flowers, donations in Kathy’s memory may be made to the Franciscan Home Care and Hospice Care, 267 Finch Ave., Meriden, CT 06451 (https://franciscanhc.org/home-2/support-us/).

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, October 30, 2025, at St. Aloysius Church, 254 Burritt St., Plantsville. There are no calling hours. Plantsville Funeral Home has been entrusted with handling the arrangements. For online condolences and directions, please visit www.plantsvillefuneralhome.com.