Calling Hours: 6 to 9 pm Tuesday, July 5, 2016 and 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 pm Wednesday, July 6, 2016
Mass: 9:45 am Thursday, July 7, 2016 at St. Joseph’s Church, Bronxville
HOULIHAN – Kathrene “Kate” (nee Blish) of Chicago, IL; New Rochelle, Crestwood, and Bronxville, NY died July 2 at home surrounded by family. She was 96. She and Dan, her husband of 53 years raised nine children in love and faith: Kathie (Jim), Rita, Dorothy (Marcel), Daniel (Marie), Joe (Anna), Mark (Amy), Barbara (Bill), Gerry (Maureen) and Elizabeth (Ralph).
A graduate of Maplehurst Convent of the Sacred Heart (1937) and Manhattanville College (1941) her faith, intellectual curiosity and love of beauty sparked many interests – American History, Church History, art, architecture, ballet, opera, embroidery, travel, baseball, the US Open and French cooking! Her legendary dinner parties were a key ingredient of Dan’s and his partners’ (James G. Houlihan and Howard Parnes) business, Houlihan-Parnes Realtors. An enthusiastic, late-in life golfer, Kate enjoyed many “9 holes” with Siwanoy friends.
Long time parishioners of Annunciation (1949-1999, Crestwood, NY), Kate and Dan were generous supporters of Catholic education – Manhattan College, Iona College and Prep, College of New Rochelle, De La Salle Academy, Academy of Mount Saint Ursula, Cornelia Connelly Center, Convent of the Sacred Heart Greenwich, Annunciation School, and The Ursuline School and in addition, Covenant House and Graymoor. Kate joined St. Joseph’s parish in 1999. She served on the board of the Convent of the Sacred Heart, Greenwich and was the school’s 1992 Outstanding Alumna.
She is survived by 19 grandchildren, eight great-grandchildren, many nieces and nephews, her brother-in-law, Joe and his wonderful wife June (Northbrook, IL), five cousins, her longtime nurse and friend Grace Sendras, plus many dear friends. She kept us all connected through visits, letters, calls and email. Kate was predeceased by her husband, her brother (Syl) and sisters (Sally, Marie, Betsy) and sisters-in-law (Rita Anne, Janet). A woman of deep faith, Kate encouraged her family to cultivate interests, to “always do something worthwhile” and “to be good to everybody.”
Wake will be held at McGrath’s, Bronxville, July 5, 6-9; July 6, 2-4 and 7-9. Funeral Mass at St. Joseph’s, July 7, 9:45 AM. In lieu of flowers please contribute to Annunciation School, Crestwood, NY or The Pregnancy Care Center, New Rochelle, NY. http://school.annunciationcrestwood.com/giving/ OR (http://emr4motherandchild.org/donate/)
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