Kathleen Joan Callens

Kathleen Joan Callens (Duggan), 91, of Catonsville, Maryland and later years in Ellicott City, Maryland, passed away peacefully on January 23, 2026. Joan was born and raised in Baltimore, Maryland and was a 1952 graduate of The Catholic High School of Baltimore. As a teenager, she volunteered at her church and Bon Secours Hospital, and then worked at C&P Telephone Company following high school. In 1954, she married the love of her life, Robert Callens, and shortly thereafter moved to Albuquerque, New Mexico for two years before returning to Catonsville, Maryland where they raised their family. She lived most of her adult life in Catonsville where she was a member of St. Mark Catholic Church and was involved in many church and community activities. Joan was a homemaker devoted to creating a loving and faith-filled home. She was a volunteer and substitute teacher at St. Mark School and held positions in the financial aid and administrative offices of Catonsville Community College.

Joan most enjoyed spending time with family and friends, including hosting holiday gatherings and family vacations at the beach. She enjoyed traveling to visit family living in Alaska, Helsinki, Finland, and Ireland, including visiting her extended family and ancestral homes in Dungarvan and Lismore. But most of all, she enjoyed taking care of her family and home. She joked that her hobbies included cooking, house cleaning, washing windows, and laundry.

Joan was a devout Catholic of great faith, and a devoted wife and mother who dedicated her life to sharing her faith, love, and support with those closest to her. Joan is survived by her loving children: Anna Marie Ryan (Dennis), Kathleen O’Donnell (Wayne), Robert Callens (Tracey), and Julia Boris (John). Affectionately known as “Nan”, she is also lovingly remembered by her nine grandchildren: Dennis Ryan, Jr., Allison Nelson (Tom), Wayne O’Donnell, Jr. (Lindsey), Kyle O’Donnell (Bree), Kristen Davis (Donnie), Callen Boris (Jordan), Nicholas Boris (Lauren), Matthew Callens, and Griffin Boris (Allison); and 13 great grandchildren: Genevieve, Madeline, Grady, Callen, Emily, Hayes, Grayson, Michael, Grayson, Sutton, Brenna, Afton, and Carter.

Joan is also survived by her brother Michael Duggan, sister-in-law Andrea Schneider, and nine nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her beloved husband of 58 years, Robert Callens, her parents, Michael and Johanna (Joan) Duggan, her siblings, Thomas Duggan, Sheila Rosensteel, and Maureen Cassidy; and her granddaughter Kate Dodson (Weston).

A visitation will be held at Sterling - Ashton -Schwab-Witzke Funeral Home of Catonsville, 1630 Edmondson Avenue Catonsville MD 21228, Tuesday February 3, 2026, 4 -8 pm

A Funeral Mass will be held at St. Mark Catholic Church, 30 Melvin Avenue, Catonsville, Maryland 21228 on Wednesday February 4, 2026, at Noon. Interment to follow Crest lawn Memorial Garden 2150 Mt View Rd, Marriottsville, MD 21104.

In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests donations be made in Joan’s memory to My Brother’s Keeper, 4207 Frederick Avenue, P.O. Box 25169, Baltimore, Maryland 21229 or at http://cc-md.org.