Catherine "Kay" Moody

Bangor – Catherine Moody, 96, widow of Omar Moody, after a short period of declining health, passed into the arms of Jesus on Wednesday, May 5, 2010 surrounded by her loving family. She was born in Brewer on May 27, 1913 and raised by James and Harriet Bowden in Passadumkeag.

She attended schools in Passadumkeag and Milo and graduated from Howland High School in 1930. After graduation, she attended the Machias Normal School, and at the age of seventeen, began her teaching career in a one room school house on Long Ridge in Burlington.

At the age of 18, she married and began her family. Following the death of her beloved husband, Walter Richardson, she returned to teaching in Passadumkeag where she remained for 14 years. In 1961, she married the second love of her life, Omar Moody, and after moving to Bradley, she began teaching at Viola Rand Elementary School in Bradley where she remained until retirement in 1976. While teaching in Bradley, she mentored numerous student teachers, and many of those former teachers remain in contact, holding for her a great respect and affection.

Also, during her time at Viola Rand, she completed her education at the University of Maine at Orono and continued to take educational courses each summer. She was selected to attend the Cuisinaire Rods seminar in New York City, and upon her return, she shared her knowledge with teachers from Van Buren to Bradley.

She was very active in the local Passadumkeag Grange where she held various posts as well as participated and worked in the many grange plays and suppers. She was a faithful and active member of the Passadumkeag Baptist Church, and upon moving to Bradley, she transferred that faithfulness to the Bradley Baptist Church.

Kay, as she was known to friends and loved ones, loved to travel, visiting her family during the holidays; Thanksgivings with her son Reg and wife in Caribou and Christmases with her daughter Coleen and husband in New York. She also enjoyed creating things by knitting, crocheting, tatting and sewing.

In 2000, she moved from her home in Bradley to Sunbury Village in Bangor continuing to be active in many activities, especially her Tuesday afternoon Bible studies with Dave and Donna Morrison, and continuing her talent of making new friends wherever she went.

She wanted to be remembered as a teacher who disciplined with love and treated all her pupils fairly. At her 90th birthday party in 2003, she was honored by family, friends and many of those students whom she had taught during her career and who recalled fondly the experiences they had in her classroom. She had a personal remembrance for each of those students. Kay also had many wonderful and loving memories of her neighbors and dear friends, the Dudleys and their farm in Passadumkeag.

Kay is survived by her son Reg Hanson and his wife Martha of Caribou; daughter Coleen Catrini and her husband Sal of Hermon; step-son Gary Moody and his wife Beverly of Sherman; two grandchildren, Allan Hanson of Caribou and Nancy Barnes of Bradley; step-grandchildren, Nathan Moody, Dannette Moody and Jeaneane Cyr; great granddaughter Emily Barnes; and many step-great grandchildren, and numerous nieces and nephews; her beloved friends, Gloria Ramp, Pauline Richards, Martha Latno, and Bonnie Whitney; her new friends at Sunbury Village, including, Gerald and Joanne, Wally and Sue, Randy and Debbie, Tom and Stephanie, Gary and Patty, Mary, Maxine and Jean, her special tablemates, and her special “roommate” Kathy.

Along with Kay’s foster parents, she is predeceased by her infant daughter Patricia, her husbands, Walter Richardson and Omar Moody and her step-grandson Logan.

A very grateful thanks to her special caregivers, Andra and Shawna, for the faithful and loving care of our mother by understanding her needs which enabled her to maintain her independence and dignity and to St. Joseph Hospice Care personnel for their total support, especially Melanie, Jessica, and Cindy. And also a special thanks to Dr. Kerry Riker and his assisant JoAnne for all of their wonderful care and compassion.

Family and friends are invited to call from 2-4pm and 6-8pm on Tuesday, May 11, at the Birmingham Funeral Home, 438 Main St., Old Town, ME. A funeral service will be celebrated at 10am on Wednesday May 12, at the funeral home. Interment will be afterward at the Gould’s Ridge Cemetery in Passadumkeag. A luncheon will follow at the Passadumkeag Community Center, 34 Pleasant St., Passadumkeag. Notes of condolences may be left at www.birminghamfuneralhome.com