Catherine L. Kernan

Catherine Lois Bankert Kernan, 79, of Clinton NY, passed away December 4, 2025, at home.
She was born July 29, 1946, in Utica, the daughter of the late Robert Anthony Bankert and Marguerite Maloy Bankert. She was the oldest of ten siblings and spent her first years living on the campus of Hamilton College where her father taught speech, and in Ithaca, NY where her father attended law school at Cornell University on the GI bill. They eventually settled on Allport Place in New Hartford. Her mother, Marguerite, famously ran a tight ship while raising ten children and remained deeply engaged in her community. Both of her parents helped shape Cathy's interest in the law and her strong sense of civic commitment. Cathy graduated from New Hartford High School in 1964 and Catholic University in 1968 with a BA in History. The summer before attending Catholic University, she was introduced to Edward W Kernan of Utica at a party in New Hartford. During her sophomore year at CU, she famously offered Ed a shared ride home in Father Paul Drobin's car to NY for Thanksgiving, and the rest is history.
Cathy married Ed on November 29, 1968, and they had just celebrated their 57th wedding anniversary.
Cathy spent her career at the US Department of Labor in Washington DC in executive personnel handling all political appointees. She worked there for 37 years and maintained exceptional recall of the law and was widely respected by her coworkers for her historical knowledge and professionalism. Each new presidential election produced new political appointees who did not initially trust her because she had been working with the previous administration. Through her excellent knowledge of the law and balanced approach she gained the trust of the new leadership, and they came to depend upon her to help them navigate the Human Resources rules to achieve their goals within law. After her retirement in February 2005 her colleagues continued to consult her for many years.
She and Ed returned to the Utica area in September of 2005 settling in Clinton, NY.
Cathy is remembered as a loving wife, mother, grandmother, and the cherished matriarch of her family. She found joy in welcoming relatives and friends into their Clinton NY home, hosting holiday gatherings and offering a comfortable place to stay for anyone passing through. Thoughtful to the core, she never missed a birthday and delighted college-aged nieces and nephews with her care packages. Her Christmas letters and travel journals were eagerly awaited each year by a wide circle of family, friends, and colleagues. She spread small moments of joy by handing out chocolate kisses in little bags on holidays both during her government career and at her churches. She poured love into her knitting, creating more than 40 baby blankets for the children of family and friends. In retirement, she and Ed explored the country together, traveling through all the lower 48 states.
Cathy played an active role in her community and took great joy in the friendships she formed. She was a member of St. John the Evangelist Church, New Hartford where she served as a lector and sacristan. She was the administrator for the Utica Volunteer Tutor Reading Program that was started by her mother-in-law, Kitty Kernan. She took regular classes at the Mohawk Valley Institute for Learning in Retirement (MVILR), was the Secretary of the Clinton Garden Club, and she was on the board of the St. Agnes Cemetery. She was also active in supporting her husband's diaconate ministry including participating in regular retreats at the Cape Vincent Correctional Facility.
She is survived by her husband; her children, Gertrude ""Trudy"" Kernan Cox and husband Christopher Lawrence Cox, of Denver, CO, Edward ""Ed"" Wagner Kernan, Jr. and wife Amy Leigh West Kernan of Seattle, WA; her grandchildren, Hadyn, Caelen and Riley Cox, Henry, William, and Patrick Kernan; her siblings, Joan Kernan (David), Andrew Bankert (Gayle), Carol Carpentier, Richard Bankert (Liz), John Bankert (Ellen) and Thomas Bankert; and many nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her brothers, Robert A. Bankert, Jr., Peter Bankert, and Nicholas Bankert.
Calling hours are Wednesday, Dec. 10, from 4-7 p.m. at Friedel, Williams & Edmunds Funeral Services, 13 Oxford Rd., New Hartford. The funeral will be Thursday, Dec. 11, at 10:30 a.m. at St. John the Evangelist Church, New Hartford, where a Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated. Interment will be in St. Agnes Cemetery.
Online messages of sympathy may be left at: www.fwefh.com.