Kathleen Theresa (Donohue) Shugrue

Kathleen T. Shugrue

Our mother, Kathleen T. Shugrue, 92, was called home to heaven on March 27, 2021. Mom passed peacefully while in her own home with her family by her side. She was predeceased by her husband of 68 years, James M. Shugrue, and her youngest daughter Mary E. Shugrue. She leaves her four remaining children: Catherine E. Shugrue, Margaret M. Shugrue, and her husband Richard D. LaCroix, Dianne T. Shugrue, and her husband Laurence E. Kelly and James M. Shugrue II and his wife Lisa K. Shugrue. Kathleen also leaves her adopted daughters Karen A. Hippert and Patricia Shugrue LaCross.

Nana, as her grandchildren called her, leaves grandchildren Jessica Johnson and her husband Paul Johnson, Carolyn Shea and her husband Paul Shea, Deirdre Legasey and her partner James Cole, Allison LaCroix and her fiancé George Dellarose, Charles LaCroix, and his wife, Keri LaCroix, Samantha LaCroix and her partner Arbin Lopez, Nicole Murphy and her husband Patrick Murphy, Devin Kelly and his wife Heidi Kelly, Kathleen Kelly, Maddison Shugrue and her fiancé Cory Grenier, Skyler Shugrue, Chloe Shugrue.

Nana also leaves her great-grandchildren; Amanda Johnson, and her partner Jason Alexander, Stephen Johnson, and his partner Tania Mendez-Gross, Patrick Shea, James Shea, Cathrine Shea, Noah Legasey, Crew Dellarose, Kailani Lopez, Caroline Murphy, Rayne Lopez, and Emerson Kelly.

Kathleen also leaves behind a team of great caregivers: Maureen Lacouture, Tiffany Novia, Melanie Hare, Cheryl Sauroil, Pat Bergeron, and Dani Bowen. They were all essential to keeping Kathleen safe in her home and became her faithful friends.

Kathleen was born the child of Irish immigrants Sylvester and Catherine (Brosnihan) Donohue on August 31, 1928. She is predeceased by her brothers and sisters, Mary, Sylvester, Thomas, Rita, John, and Helen. Kathleen lived her entire life in Worcester MA, most of it in the north end. She was a lifelong member of Immaculate Conception Church where she received every sacrament and from which she will now be buried.

Kathleen graduated from Worcester's Sacred Heart Academy in 1947. Kathleen earned her Bachelor of Science Degree in Education from Worcester State College in 1982 while raising five children, maintaining a household, and holding down various full-time positions including AT&T overseas operator and a teacher aid. Upon graduating, Kathleen became a teacher for the Worcester Public Schools system. Kathleen was a life member of the Mass Teacher Association. Being a teacher was a lifetime goal she achieved at 54 years old. She retired from teaching in 1998 when she was 70 years old.

Kathleen and Jim met via Jim's lifelong and best friend, Donald Hippert when Jim was on leave from the Army in 1945. Kathleen and Jim met, went dancing, and were married on April 15, 1950, at the Immaculate Conception Church and celebrated at the Eden Garden. They were devoted Catholics who were married for 68 years and are together in heaven again with their youngest daughter Mary Elizabeth.

We are grateful for her long life and for the powerful example of strength, courage, and faith that Kathleen showed every single day. Not a day went by without a smile on her face. We will miss her, but we are comforted knowing that she is back with her husband Jim, her parents, siblings, and daughter who have saved her a special space in paradise.

A funeral mass to celebrate her life will be held on Wednesday, March 31, 2021, at 11:00 am at Immaculate Conception Church 353 Grove Street, Worcester. We ask that family and friends meet directly at the church. Burial will follow at St. Johns Cemetery. Arrangements are in the care of Callahan, Fay & Caswell Life Celebration Home. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Immaculate Conception Church.