Catherine M. 'Kay' (Sousa) Washburn

West Newton – Mrs. Catherine M. 'Kay' (Sousa) Washburn, of West Newton, died Wednesday, February 11, 2015 at Wingate at Needham. She was 91.

Kay was born in Waltham on March 21, 1923, a daughter of the late George and Catherine (Shields) Sousa, and was a graduate of Waltham High School. On May 19, 1946 she married Donald B. Washburn, also of Waltham, and two years later the couple moved to West Newton where they raised their family of eleven children.

In addition to caring for the needs of her family she worked for several years at the Bachrach Studio in Watertown.

Kay's husband, Don, died on December 3, 2011.

The mother of the late Theodore 'Ted' Washburn and grandmother of the late Kevin Clancy, Kay leaves her children, Paula Clancy and her husband, Richard, of Waltham, Donald Washburn and his wife, Judy, of Sandpoint, Idaho, Katherine 'Kit' Washburn of Auburndale, Philip Washburn and his wife, April, of Fitchburg, Diane Nee and her husband, Kevin, of Waltham, Mark Washburn and his wife, Elizabeth, of Cincinnati, Ohio, Jean Washburn and her partner, Eric Cook, of Milford, New Hampshire, Joan Papalia and her husband, Alan, of Merrimack, New Hampshire, Suzanne Gallello and her husband, John, of Milford, New Hampshire and George Washburn of Newton; her sister, Faith Schaeffer of Florida; 30 grandchildren, 16 great-grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.

She was also a sister of the late Paul Sousa, Helen Riley and Isabelle Poretti.

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 Friday, February 20th from 4 to 8 p.m. and again at 9 a.m. on Saturday morning before leaving in procession to Saint Bernard's Church, 1523 Washington Street, West Newton where her Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Burial will be private.