Catherine M. Foley's Obituary
Catherine M. Foley, 65, of North Andover and formerly of Salem, NH, passed peacefully at Brigham and Women’s Hospital on Friday, March 24, 2017 from respiratory failure.
Cathy was born and raised in Lawrence, the daughter of the late Vincent P. and Genevieve R. (Killeen) Foley. She attended St. Augustine’s School on Tower Hill and graduated from St. Mary’s High School, Class of 1970 and Northern Essex Community College, Class of 1972.
Cathy worked for 41 years for the Raytheon Corp. at both their Andover, MA and Santa Barbara, CA facilities, most recently as a financial analyst. She retired in 2013.
Cathy enjoyed all sorts of outdoor activities, especially playing softball, camping, skiing and going to the beach. She was an ardent fan of the Red Sox and Patriots and had a large collection of sports memorabilia. As much as she enjoyed attending professional sporting events, she was just as happy following the teams her nieces and nephews played for and more recently she followed the exploits of her great nieces and nephews. She also enjoyed breeding and raising her black Labrador retrievers, especially Bridget, Abby and Keira.
More than anything else, Cathy enjoyed her role as Aunt Cathy. She never missed a birthday, Christmas, First Communion, graduation or any other opportunity to celebrate and share her time and generosity with her nieces and nephews and their children. She was a much loved Aunt.
Cathy is survived by her siblings: Patricia F. Karl and husband, Russell of North Andover, Vincent P. Foley, Jr. and wife, Jeanne of Hampton, NH, Justine Croteau and husband Robert of Andover, Barbara Jensen and husband, William of Methuen, Thomas Foley and wife, Virginia of Hooksett, NH and Michael Foley and wife Beth of Walnut Creek, CA. She is also survived by her nieces and nephews Kristin Carnahan, Jennifer Sylvester, Stephen Karl, Kevin Foley, Jeffrey Foley, Timothy Foley, Brian Croteau, Sean Croteau, Erin Stefanek, Katrina Hunter, Lisa Rasanen, Meghan Long, Michelle Foley, Sean Foley and Patrick Foley and great-nieces and nephews Liam, Katherine, Connor, Samantha, Gannon, Ryan, Tucker, Connor, Aidan, Owen, Ethan, Henry, Reese, Grace, Hannah, August, Ella, Brynn, Trevor, Jacob, Emma, Ashley, Declan, and Maeve. She was also pre-deceased by her sister, Mary Beth Foley.
Contributions in Cathy’s name may be made to the Mary Beth Foley Scholarship Fund at Lowell General Hospital and/or the Patricia F. Karl Scholarship Fund at the Lawrence Family Development Charter School.
Arrangements: Friends and relatives are invited to attend visiting hours on Monday, March 27, 2017 from 4 -8 pm at the John Breen Memorial Funeral Home Inc, 122 Amesbury St., Lawrence, MA.
A funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10 am on Tuesday, March 28, 2017 at St. Michael’s Church, 196 Main St., North Andover, MA. To send an online condolence or for more information, please go to www.breenfuneralhome.com.
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