Katherine Julia Curran

Wife, Mother, Sister, Aunt, Friend

Compassionate Nurse

December20,1937- June 21, 2011

Harwich-Katherine J. Shannon Curran, “Kay” died peacefully with her daughter, Elizabeth-Ann Shannon Curran( “Betsy” )and her dogs by her side, June 21, 2011.

Kay was predeceased by her late husband, William C. Curran, Jr., the love of her life and high school sweetheart. They were often called the Campbell Soup Twins by friends and family. She is survived by her daughter, Elizabeth-Ann Shannon Curran, of Harwich and her 6 beloved dogs, Bonnie, Dolly, Zoe, Chester, Geno, and Jazzie who were also her constant companions who would start her day and end it with lots of kisses and gave her lots of love and joy.

Kay is also survived by her brothers whom she loved, adored and called her hero‘s, J. Richard Shannon and his wife, Joan; William P. Shannon and his wife, Jane of Bethel, Ct. Her Sister-in-Laws, whom she loved and treasured, Margaret Shannon, wife of the late John A. Shannon, Jr., of St. Davids, Pa, Helen J. Shannon, wife of the late Edward M. Shannon, of Charlestown, RI, Phyllis G. Shannon, wife of the late Robert Shannon, of Arlington, Texas. She is predeceased by her sister, Nancy Shannon Potts, and her late husband, Arthur G. Potts of Southbury, Ct.

Also, surviving are her husband Bill’s family, whom she loved and adored, her brother-in-laws Philip D. Curran and his wife, Margaret Mary of Danbury Ct., Francis X. Curran and his wife, Linda of Wesfield, NY. Her “Little-sister-in-law” Eileen Elizabeth Curran and her husband, Edward Baylock, of New Milford, Ct.

“Ant Kay” was blessed with over 60 nieces and nephews and grand nieces and nephews, whom she loved dearly and was very proud of all of them.

Kay is also survived by many friends, who made a lot of time for her and never forgot her especially her best friend, Mary Ellen Trachter of Naugatuck, Ct; and “Ant” Pat Kelly, a childhood friend, of Bethel, Ct., whom she traveled to Ireland with and had a wonderful time!

Kay was born in Danbury, Ct. to John Augustus and Margaret (Gallagher) Shannon, she was the youngest of seven children. She was a devout Irish-Catholic and a Democrat who was involved in the civil rights movement, met Robert F. and Ted Kennedy, and supported the women’s movement. She graduated from Danbury High School in 1956 and went onto St. Vincent’s College of Nursing in Bridgeport, Ct, where she earned her Bachelors of Science in Nursing in 1959. Upon graduation she was immediately recruited for med surge Nurse at Columbia Prespetyrian in NYC. She spent the next four decades following her calling in Nursing. She worked at Danbury hospital, Cape Cod hospital, Orleans Convalescent Nursing home, Liberty Commons Nursing Home, all in various capacities from Director of Nurses, Unit Nurse manager, Nursing supervisor as well as floor Nurse. She specialized in Geriatric Nursing for almost 30 years till her retirement. She was legendary in the Nursing community on the Cape for being knowledgeable, compassionate and caring to the patients and was a strong advocate for the rights and dignity of the elderly. She treated her nursing sisters and the nurses aids with respect and never hesitated to roll up her sleeves and work as a team. She knew her patients by name and not by their room number. She even made house calls to patients who couldn’t afford to get nursing help in their own homes and take care of what was necessary to make them feel better.

Kay was not only an extraordinary nurse, but she was a loving and devoted wife and mother to her Bill and Betsy. She always put their needs ahead of her own and made many sacrifices to make a wonderful life for them. She would tell people “they are my world and I am theirs.” Kay and her Bill made a wonderful life together and for their only child, Betsy on Cape Cod. Family vacations were always spent together down in Provincetown and Welfleet were they would play tourists , and the home they built together in Harwich always had an open door for friends and family, never a Sunday or Holiday was not shared by others at their home. Kay loved swimming and she taught her daughter and many nieces and nephews how to swim at Nauset Beach and Herring Cove. She loved her jewelry, especially her bracelets that always jingled and made people laugh. She had an infectious laugh that could lighten up any bad mood and a loving and forgiving heart that brought a smile to the crumpiest of people.

In her retirement years after her beloved Bill had passed away, she became involved in the ladies guild at Holy Trinity Church, was selected by the Harwich Board of Selectmen to be on the Disabilities committee, to advocate for the Elderly and people with disabilities, she volunteered at the Council of Aging as a call reassurance friend, but also would make reassurance visits on her own, with food and flowers, too.

Kay was also the heart and soul of the family business, Lady Brett’s Flower Shop and Gift Shop in West Harwich. It was she who taught her daughter, to arrange flowers and came up with the signature look of the 3-5-7 arrangements. She also taught her daughter how to do crafts and garden. She helped make over 20,000 red, white and blue bows, and yellow bows since 9/11 and the 2003 start of the war and past them out to anyone who wanted to show support to families who lost loved ones or who had a loved one in harm‘s way. She would enjoy greeting people, being a buyer for the store and doing story time at holidays and at the Flower Fairy festivals. She would make her traditional Irish soda bread every St. Patrick’s day to serve to the customers. She also passed out flower bouquets to Seniors on the COA bus on Fridays to make sure they knew someone cared about them. Kay would talk to anyone and make friends fast. She never had a mean word to say to anyone just a laugh and a hug. She loved music and to sing even though she couldn’t carry a tune.

Kay was a wonderful and loving mother to her daughter and her daughter was very lucky to have had her as a Mom.

Kay’s daughter would like to thank the Nurse’s and the Wonderful Nurse’s aids for the compassionate care to her mother at Eagle Pond Nursing Rehab in South Dennis, when she was there. Also, another special thank you to the Harwich Fire Department for their outstanding care, of Kay and treating her like family for over the years.

Another special Thank you, to Bill Crowley and his staff at Doane, Beal and Ames funeral home for the comfort, kindness and compassion they have shown Kay’s daughter during this difficult time.

Kay’s daughter would like to invite any friends or family to Kay’s Irish Wake at the Brax Landing in Harwich Port, immediately following the funeral services on Tuesday, June 28, 2011

RSVP 508-430-7151 or 508-432-5338

Memorial donations maybe made to the Harwich Fire Association, PO Box 23, Harwich, ma 02646 Or To St. Jude’s Children‘s Hospital