Kathleen M. "Kay" (Gaudet) O'Neil

Waltham – Mrs. Kathleen M. "Kay" (Gaudet) O'Neil, of Waltham, died Thursday, December 31, 2015 in Newton-Wellesley Hospital. She was 96.

Kay was born in Amherst, Nova Scotia on May 11, 1919, a daughter of the late Marcel and Sarah (Cormier) Gaudet, and moved to Waltham with her family when she was a child.

Widowed at the age of thirty-three, Kay found herself being mom and dad to her young daughters both under the age of five, Kathy and Eileen, and she fulfilled her duty splendidly. Their testimony is that "she was the best mother in the world."

Never a complainer by nature Kay took on her role with grace, courage and determination. With the help of her own large and heart-filled family the close knit group cared for the girls and for one another.

She worked for years as a quality control inspector for the Raytheon Company in Waltham and always found time to sneak away to attend parent meetings and events involving her children. The family loved to spend time in York, Maine during summer vacations and any time of the year Kay could be found, along with her sisters, on the prowl for a good yard sale in the neighborhood and beyond.

The wife of the late Thomas F. O'Neil, Kay leaves her daughters, Kathleen K. Guzzi and her husband, Joseph, of Weston and Eileen M. O'Neil of Waltham; her grandchildren, Jennifer Stock and her husband, Greg, Joseph Guzzi and his wife, Amy, and Jessica Guzzi; her great-grandchildren, Abigail, Emily, and Peter Stock and Joey and Caroline Guzzi; her brother J. Edward Gaudet and his wife, Yvonne, of Lexington and many nieces and nephews.

She was also a sister of the late Ralph Gaudet, Dorothy Hayes, Louise Brandt, and H. Yvonne Cannon.

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 Monday, January 4th from 4 to 8 p.m. and again at 9 a.m. on Tuesday morning before leaving in procession to Saint Mary's Church, 133 School Street, Waltham where her Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Burial will follow in Calvary Cemetery, Waltham.