Kathleen M. Broadmeadow

Kathy was born Kathleen Surprenant and raised in the Southend of New Bedford. She was the twin sister of Kenneth Surprenant who now resides with his wife Vickie in Steamboat Springs, CO. Her older brother David Surprenant lives with his wife Diane in Osterville, MA. Kathy was predeceased by her brother Michael, also from Osterville. Her parents, Arthur and Kathleen Surprenant, lived in the Southend of New Bedford where they raised the four siblings in a house full of humor and love.

Kathy graduated from New Bedford High School in 1963 and began a career with New England Telephone, later Verizon. While at New England Telephone, Kathy, always the spark in the room with her vibrant red hair and infectious laughter, met and married her loving husband Paul Broadmeadow and ESL teacher at New Bedford High School. Together they raised two wonderful children, Sarah Broadmeadow Lamothe and David Broadmeadow. They celebrated 55 years of marriage together in October.

Sarah is married to Robert Lamothe and resides in North Dartmouth, MA. David is married to Yara Matos and resides in Easton, MA.

Kathy remained at Verizon until 2001, the year her first grandchild, Bobby Lamothe was born. When Bobby was learning to speak, Kathy tried to have him call her Grammie. Bobby kept repeating, “No, Doodah.” She was known as Doodah ever since.

Doodah was the grandmother of five grandchildren. From Sarah and Bob Lamothe came Bobby and Katie, named after her grandmother. From David and Yara came Mila, Ella and Cole. All five grandkids can attest that Doodah was the absolute best grandmother on the planet. She filled their lives with humor and love and was the subject of many hysterical videos or photos. She was the center of their universe and they were the center of hers.

Doodah’s nieces and nephews were a big part of her life also. Tracy and Jamie Surprenant and his partner Beth, Nicki Wilson and her husband Brett, Kerri Dempster, her partner Scott and their late brother Mark Surprenant, Jonathan Jeffers and his wife Rita , Lucy Nguyen and her husband Tony, Dustin Surprenant and his wife Brittany. Kathy spent holidays entertaining them with her jokes and antics, she always looked forward to the annual gathering at “Camp Kenny”.

Kathy had great friends in Karen Simonds, her best friend since they were 4 years old and her lunch buddies from Verizon Betty Benevides, Patty Estrella and Sam Houlihan.

Yes, Kathy Broadmeadow was loved by many people in the community and to say “she will be greatly missed” does not come close to how much these people will really miss her.

Please join us on Thursday December 18th from 4-7 at the Waring-Sullivan Funeral Home 180 Washington St, Fairhaven to say our final goodbyes and celebrate her life. In lieu of flowers please consider a donation to Gifts to Give at www.giftstogive.org to make a child’s birthday in our community a little brighter.