Kathryn Tracy McNamara

Kathryn “Kay” Tracy (Tolhurst) McNamara passed away peacefully on Friday, November 3, 2017 at her home surrounded by her loving family. Kay was born on December 3, 1923 in Hartford to the late Lewis Bruce Hart and Kathryn Galvin Tolhurst, and was a life-long resident of East Hartford. She was predeceased by her husband, John J. McNamara, of 38 years. Kay’s love of the beach and ocean led her to spend most of her free time with family and friends at her home in West Dennis, MA.

She was a 1941 graduate of East Hartford High School and a 1945 graduate of the Woman’s College of the University of North Carolina (now known as University of North Carolina at Greensboro). She taught kindergarten and first grade in schools in the south end of East Hartford for 29 years. She was a charter member and first president of the East Hartford Woman’s Club. In 2008 Kay received the Archdiocesan Medal of Appreciation for the work she had done for the church as a member and trustee of St. Christopher Church in East Hartford. She enjoyed her years on the Board of St. Francis Women’s Auxiliary and as Chairman of the hospital gift shop (The Cheer Cupboard). She assisted in many of the health fund drives in town and enjoyed talking with the people who called the Lung Association Flu Hotline.

She was also predeceased by her two sons, Jay B. McNamara and Thomas T. McNamara both of East Hartford; her sister Dorothy T. Scoville of East Hartford; and her brother Allen B. Tolhurst of East Hampton.

She is survived by her daughter, Lt. Col. (Ret.) Nancy L. McNamara of Largo, FL; her granddaughter Jillian McNamara and her husband Chris McCue of Wethersfield; her grandson Patrick McNamara and his wife Caitlin of Manchester; her daughter-in-law Deborah D. McNamara of East Hartford; her great-grandsons, Aiden J., John T., and Colin W. McCue, and her great-granddaughter Emilia E. McNamara. She is also survived by her sister-in-law Jean McNamara, her dear friend of 72 years Dorothy E. Paul; many nieces, nephews and dear friends.

Funeral service will be Wednesday (November 8th) at 9 am from the D’ESOPO-East Hartford Memorial Chapel, 30 Carter Street, East Hartford with a Mass of Christian Burial celebrated at 10 AM at St. Christopher Church campus of St. Edmund Campion Parish, 538 Brewer Street, East Hartford. Burial will follow at St. Mary’s Cemetery, (Section K), Burnside Avenue, East Hartford. Kay’s family will receive relatives and friends on Tuesday (November 7Th) from 3-7PM at the funeral home chapel. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations in Kay’s name please be made to the East Hartford Woman’s Club Scholarship Fund, P.O. Box 380401, East Hartford, CT 06138-0401 or to St. Christopher School, 570 Brewer Street, East Hartford, CT 06118. For on-line expressions of sympathy to the family please visit www.desopo.com.