Born in Otselic, N.Y., on May 2, 1927, to John and Gertrude (Banks) Satterlee, Kay had been a resident of the Chenango Valley area all of her life. After earning her high school degree from Oxford, N.Y., she married Raymond Cummings in a small ceremony on December 27, 1948. They had a long and happy marriage until his death on February 16, 2012. They had two sons Gary (Joy) Cummings of Norwich and Raymond (Betsy) Cummings of Unadilla.
Katherine spent her life running a household with providence and wit, caring for her extended family and friends. She was an accomplished baker, enjoyed crocheting, reading, and cheering for Manchester United in Premier League soccer with her namesake great-granddaughter. She traveled periodically to visit her two out-of-state grandchildren Matthew (Amanda) Cummings and Charity (James) Therrien. On these travels she relentlessly doted on her great grandchildren and was an enthusiastic tourist. Whether it was viewing a pre-dawn space shuttle launch in Cape Canaveral, eating lunch on the top floor of the John Hancock Tower in Chicago, learning about sea life at an aquarium in Atlanta, encountering a bear in Orlando, or just walking sandy beaches in San Diego or Melbourne, she was always excited to try new things. She lived independently until the end of her life, maintaining her extensive garden and making baked goods to share with her supportive neighbors.
Katherine is survived by her sons, her siblings Becky (Dick) Hagenbuch, Mary (Ed) Phetteplace, Herbert (Cheryl) Satterlee and Josephine Warner. Also surviving are her grandchildren, great grandchildren, and many beloved nieces and nephews.
Besides her husband, Raymond, Katherine was predeceased by her sisters Betty Combes, Virginia Carney, Leona Manwarren, and Rose Satterlee.
A small graveside service for Katherine was held at the Riverview Cemetery of Oxford. The Rev. Rachel Barnhart, Pastor of the Broad St. United Methodist Church of Norwich officiated. Due to these unprecedented times, and in the spirit of her lifelong concern for the well-being of her family and friends, a public service was unfortunately not held. In lieu of flowers, her family has asked that donations be made in Katherine’s name to the Broad Street Methodist Church of Norwich.
Arrangements were by the R.J.Fahy Funeral Home.
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