Katherine M. “Kate” (Sullivan) Kilroy, 81, of Tiverton, and formerly of Fall River, passed away Saturday, December 15, 2018 after a long illness. She was the beloved wife of William H. Kilroy with whom she shared 57 years of marriage.
Born in Fall River, a daughter of the late Cornelius J. and Mildred E. (Leary) Sullivan, she lived most of her life in Fall River. A woman of great faith, she was a communicant of the former SS. Peter & Paul Church and St. Theresa’s Church. Her greatest joy was being with her family and friends.
Mrs. Kilroy graduated from B.M.C. Durfee High School in 1955 and Truesdale Hospital School of Nursing in 1958. Kate was a registered nurse for the Fall River Public Schools for 23 years until her retirement in 2002. While she enjoyed all the students, she felt a special connection to the special needs students and could frequently be found with them during her free time. Prior to her time in the Fall River school system, Mrs. Kilroy worked at Truesdale Hospital and Union Hospital for 20 years collectively and was a member of the Truesdale Hospital Alumni Association.
In addition to her husband, she is survived by one son, Dr. Kevin P. Kilroy and his wife Kimberly of Berkley; two daughters, Susan E. Raymondo and her husband Michael of Fall River and Karen Kilroy of Portsmouth; a brother, Cornelius J. Sullivan, Jr. and his wife Maureen of Concord, MA; a sister, Judith E. Reis of Tiverton, RI; four grandchildren, Patrick, Kelsey, and Broghan Kilroy and Michael Raymondo; and several nieces and nephews. The family would also like to acknowledge Karen Harrison, a close family friend, for her kindness and compassion.
Her funeral will be Thursday, December 20, 2018 at 9:00 am from the Waring-Sullivan Home at Cherry Place, 178 Winter St., Fall River, MA followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 10:00 am in St. Theresa’s Church, 265 Stafford Rd., Tiverton, RI. Burial will follow in St. Patrick’s Cemetery, Fall River. Visitation will be Wednesday 4-7 pm. In lieu of flowers, donations in her memory may be made to St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105 or www.stjude.org. For online tribute/directions www.waring-sullivan.com.
