Kathleen was born on November 9, 1924 in Brooklyn, NY, the youngest child of Wallace and Sarah (Murphy) Garrett. All her siblings are deceased: Helen Kempton, Norman Garrett, John Garrett, and James Garrett.
On October 12, 1949, Kathleen married Alfred (Fred) Vanacore, a New York City Fireman, and continued to live in Brooklyn where they had their first two children, Stephen and John. In 1954 the family moved to Levittown, NY where Peter and Maureen were born. They remained a happily married couple until Fred’s passing in 2014.
Kathleen was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother and great grandmother. She was dearly loved by her husband, children, eight grandchildren and great grandchild as well as her nieces and nephews. For many years, Kathleen was a devout Catholic and member of Saint James Parish in Seaford, NY. She also worked for the Island Trees School District. She loved skiing, boating, and was envied for her fishing skills. Although of Irish and English descent, she mastered the art of southern Italian cooking to the great appreciation of her husband and children.
Kathleen and Fred traveled extensively through the US and Europe. Over their last three decades together, they lived in several communities; New Jersey, Texas, and New Hampshire; to be close to their children, grandchildren and great grandchild. They were able to live on their own in Coppell, TX and Concord, NH for many years with the loving care of family, close friends, caregivers, the Coppell TX and the Concord Fire Departments, and in their final years in the loving and professional care provided at Harris Hill Center in Concord, NH.
Kathleen is survived by her children: Stephen Vanacore and his wife Maureen, of Oradell, NJ; John Vanacore, of Concord, NH; Peter Vanacore and his wife Dianne, of Westborough, MA; Maureen Vanacore and her husband Randy Kemberling, of Coppell, TX; eight grandchildren (John Joseph, Catherine, Garrett, Carter, Austin, Sarah, Kirk, and Mark); and great-grandchild (Lucca).
A vigil will be held at Bennett Funeral Home in Concord NH on May 23 from 4-7 PM. On May 24th, a Mass of Christian Burial will be held at Christ the King Parish in Concord NH at 10 AM followed by the burial service at the New Hampshire State Veterans Cemetery, in Boscawen, NH, at 12:30 PM where she will be laid to rest with her husband Fred.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations, in memory of Kathleen, be made to either Christ the King Parish at 72 S Main St, Concord, NH 03301 or the Christian Association of Youth Mentoring at P. O. Box 75635, Wichita, KS 67275.
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