Kathleen Bramhall Obituary

Kathleen Christina Maher Bramhall, longtime resident of Bronxville and member of St Joseph's Church, and two-time past president of the Tipperary N & B Association of New York, passed away on Monday at her home in South Burlington, Vermont.

She is survived by Geoffrey, her husband of fifty years; her daughters Aileen and Colleen; her granddaughters Frances Michiko, Maeve Quezon and Ophelia Winslow; her sisters Maura Maher and Helen Mangan, sons-in-law Russell Itani and Adam Popkin, as well as numerous nephews, nieces, cousins, members of her extended family and chosen families, especially the Bramhall, Mangan, Itani and Popkin families.

She was predeceased by her parents, Denis and Alice Maher of Co. Tipperary, Ireland, and her brother Philip.

Kathleen emigrated to New York at the age of 18 to live with her aunt's family, where she thrived and resolved to stay. In 1962, she became a naturalized citizen of the United States, which gave her enormous pride for the rest of her life. She never forgot her roots, however, and remained active all her life in the Irish expatriate community, especially through her involvement in the Tipperary National and Benevolent Association of New York. March 17 was a High Holy Day in Kathleen's family, when every family member and friend that could be corralled would be marching up Fifth Avenue whatever the weather in the Saint Patrick's Day Parade and tasting her famously delicious Irish soda bread.

Kathleen and Geoffrey were introduced by a mutual friend and married in 1975, living first in Parkchester, in the Bronx, where both their daughters were born and began school. In 1984, the family moved into a sweet, narrow little house on Parkway Road in Bronxville, where they put down deep roots in a community they loved and nurtured for nearly forty years.

Kathleen had a long and loyal career at Group Health Incorporated, where she was valued and respected for her dedication, compassion and skill. When she at last reluctantly retired after 41 years at the company, she continued to pour energy and enthusiasm into her Irish and church communities, and as always, her family.

Anyone who has spent any time with Kathleen has experienced her warm smile and her ready laughter; has known what it is to be cared for and listened to by her; has been fed and watered and fed again. Hospitality was her superpower: she distributed welcome cheerfully and untiringly. The house was always full of food and laughter, and the beds made up and ready to receive friends new and old, even on short notice.

When they finally did leave this beloved home, it was again to dedicate themselves to family, this time in Vermont, where Colleen has settled with Adam and their girls. This enabled Kathleen to enjoy their company and watch them grow in her final months, which gave her tremendous joy.

Kathleen was singularly faithful and disciplined in prayer, even before retirement allowed her to attend daily Mass and rosary circle on a regular basis. Her scapular and beads were her constant companions, and we are certain that she continues to pray for us, as the warm welcome and tight embrace she always offered others is now offered to her by the hosts of heaven.