Catherine M. Palumbo

Waltham – Mrs. Catherine M. 'Kay' (McKinley) Palumbo, of Waltham, died, Wednesday, January 30, 2013 in Meadow Green Nursing Home, Waltham. She was 85.

Kay was born in Newton on November 11, 1927, a daughter of the late James A. and Mary V. (O'Shea) McKinley. She was raised in 'The Lake' section of Newton and married Rosario N. Palumbo on July 15, 1945. The couple soon settled in Waltham where they raised their family and spent more than fifty-eight years of happily married life until Rosario's death on February 29, 2004.

Until her retirement Kay worked as an inspector for the Raytheon Company. She attended hairdressing school when she turned forty and worked for a number of years at Hair by Tante in Woburn. She was very active at the Waltham Senior Center and volunteered at the general store at The Mill on Moody Street where she was also the bingo caller.

She leaves her children, Richard N. Palumbo and his wife, Elizabeth, of Leominster, Patricia A. Terrasi and her husband, David, of Billerica, Kathleen M. Roehmholdt and her husband, Wade, of West Newbury, Vermont, Deborah L. Flanagan of Waltham and James J. Palumbo and his wife, Linda, of Waltham; her grandchildren Lisa Palumbo, David Terrasi, Christina Terrasi, Brande Wood, Wade Roehmholdt, Dennis Roemholdt, Jamie Flanagan, Jacklyn Flanagan, Stephen Picone, Michael Picone, Andrea Myers and Matthew Picone; her brothers, John McKinley of Dudley and Kevin 'Michael' McKinley of New Port Richey, Florida; her great grandchildren, Nathan and Emily Terrasi, and many nieces and nephews.

Kay was the wife of the late Rosario N. Palumbo, sister of the late James A. McKinley, Jr. and Margaret Cormier and mother-in-law of the late Patrick Flanagan.

Family and friends will honor and remember Kay's life by gathering for calling hours in The Joyce Funeral Home, 245 Main Street (Rte. 20), Waltham on Sunday, February 3rd from 2 to 5 p.m. and again at 9 a.m. on Monday morning before leaving in procession to Sacred Heart Church, 311 River Street, Waltham where her Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Burial will follow in Calvary Cemetery, Waltham.