Katherine Plainte

1931 - 2019

Katherine M. Plainte, 87

Holden/Worcester - Katherine Markey Plainte, 87 died peacefully on January 24, 2019 in her home at the Willows.

Born in Worcester on September 16, 1931, she was the eldest daughter of the late Arthur and Marie (Bettley) Markey. Katherine was raised in Millbury and spent her childhood in the home purchased by her grandfather, Patrick Markey, a first-generation Irishman. Katherine was proud of her Irish heritage and recalled with great joy and laughter the wonderful, wild, and raucous times spent living among her large, extended Irish family.

Katherine graduated from Millbury High School where she excelled both as an athlete and student. She was president of the Honor Society and served as class secretary. She was a standout field hockey player, known as a tenacious and high scoring forward. She proudly captained her team in her senior year. She attended Vassar College, Poughkeepsie, N.Y. as an Eva March Tappan Scholar. At Vassar she wrote for the school newspaper and was the first student in the school's history to double major in psychology and sociology. After earning her degree with honors in 1953, she began graduate studies at Simmons College, Boston. She later worked for several years as an analyst for Paul Revere Life Insurance in Worcester. In 1971, Katherine began a highly successful career in social services, serving as the Executive Director of Camp Fire, Inc. During her twenty-five-year career with Camp Fire, she was recognized for her innovative youth programming. In 1979, she was honored at the White House in Washington, D.C. for her work with at-risk children.

Katherine had a true zest for life, and her adventurous spirit sent her white-water rafting on the Colorado River through the Grand Canyon and cruising down the Nile in Egypt. In her retirement, she traveled extensively throughout Europe and enjoyed working as a substitute teacher for the Wachusett School District. Katherine loved music, theater, and literature. She was a true bibliophile and a voracious reader. It was difficult to find a book, play, or poem that she hadn't read. She fully appreciated the beauty of the written word and dearly loved the Gale Free Library in Holden, once joking that it was her life line as young mother. She was a fantastic conversationalist and enlivened her "chats" with colorful, rich anecdotes, drawn from a life well lived. In her later years, Katherine became an enthusiastic sailor and spent many winter weeks sailing the Caribbean Seas. Her love for the ocean was immeasurable, and the soothing call of the high seas was a great comfort to her.

Katherine reveled in her role as a grandmother. She was devoted and loving and showered all of her grandchildren with kindness and good cheer. She was a true friend to her "gang of grands," and spent countless hours cheering them on at sporting events and celebrating their academic milestones. She indulged them with her "world famous" cream-filled cupcakes, orange pound cake, and six-layer Christmas cakes. Katherine was a talented seamstress and sewed countless and elaborate Halloween costumes, which have been passed down to her great grandchildren. She was proud to have attended six of her eight grandchildren's college graduations. Katherine filled her grandchildren's hearts with love and their minds with wisdom. They will miss their "Grammy Kate" dearly but know that her spirit will be with them always.

Katherine lived in Holden for fifty-seven years before moving to the Willows in 2012. She was predeceased by her beloved infant daughter Anne and her dear sister Janet Markey Dolphin. She is survived by her brother Arthur J. Markey, Jr. of Altadeena CA, her son Philip L. Plainte, Jr. of Jefferson, MA. and his wife Brenda Fancy Plainte, daughters Karen Plainte of Westborough, MA, Lisa K. Roeder of Durham, NH and her husband, Douglas G. Roeder, Pamela A. Mello of Mattapoisett, MA and her husband Charles W. Mello, Jr. In addition, she is survived by her eight adoring grandchildren, Amy Roeder Norris and her husband Eric of Charlotte, NC, Sarah Roeder Cicero and her husband Frank of Boston, MA, Jessica V. Roeder of Boston, MA, Melissa Roeder Berry and her husband Philip of Richmond, VA, Charles W. Mello III of Hoboken, NJ, Captain Robert J. Mello and his wife Elizabeth of Anchorage, AK, Katherine A. Mello of Brooklyn, NY, and Elizabeth M. Mello of San Francisco, CA. Katherine was thrilled to have earned the title of Great Grammy and is survived by her five great grandchildren, Douglas J. Norris, Henry R. Norris, and Charlotte E. Norris, Aubrey E. Mello and Evelyn M. Mello.

Katherine went "gently into that good night," wrapped in the sweetness of slumber, and set for her next adventure. A Catholic Funeral Mass will be said in her honor in July at St. Anthony's Church in Mattapoisett, MA., a stone's throw from the Atlantic Ocean she so loved and where "the voice of the sea will speak to her soul."