Catherine J. Mulligan

BARRE - Catherine Janet Mulligan, 80, passed away on Wednesday, July 17, 2019 surrounded by family and friends after a long period of illness.  She realized her final wish of seeing each of her children and visiting with friends and family by phone and in person before peacefully passing away on her own terms under hospice care at the Berlin Health and Rehabilitation Center.

Born on April 22, 1939 in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, the daughter of John (Jack) and Jessie (McIntyre) McElroy. Cathie, as she was known joined older siblings Jack, Margaret, Jim, Mary and Ann and was followed by younger sister Brenda.  Educated in Ottawa’s public schools, she first learned to knit in the third grade, a talent she would develop and enjoy for most of her life.

In 1962 Cathie immigrated to Stamford, CT where she would meet her future husband Jim. They married in 1964 in Ottawa. In 1965, as newlyweds, they moved to Barre, VT. Here, Cathie and Jim raised three children Mary Catherine, Jim and Matt. She was an active community volunteer through the Barre Garden Club and various other organizations and worked for many years at the Aldrich Library.  All her life a Canadian, Cathie was proud and devoted to the country of her birth and her beloved Canadian family while contributing widely to the Vermont community she came to call home.

Her passions were her gardens, the New York Times crossword puzzle, done in pen, pets of all sorts, cooking, baking and her friends. Her greatest joy was being a grandmother to her five grandchildren Lillian, James, Cecilia, Jack and Tucker who knew through word and deed how much they were loved.

Survivors include her husband Jim of Barre; her daughter Cathy and her husband, Patrick of Baltimore, MD and their children; her son Jim and his wife, Gwen of Kennebunkport, ME and their children; and her son Matt of Barre.  In addition, Cathie is survived by sisters Ann Taylor and Brenda McNulty as well as nieces, nephews, cousins, great-nieces, great-nephews and great-great nieces and nephews across the United States and Canada.

The service in memory of her life will be held on Saturday, October 19, 2019 at 11:00 a.m. in the Hooker and Whitcomb Funeral Home, 7 Academy Street, Barre.  There are no calling hours.

Donations in Cathie’s memory may be made to the Central Vermont Humane Society, PO Box 687, Montpelier, VT 05601, the Granite Center Garden Club, c/o Renee Hotaling, 172 Nichols Road, Barre, VT 05641, or to the Aldrich Public Library, 6 Washington Street, Barre, VT 05641.