Kathleen V. Damiano

Kathy was the daughter of the late Charles and Irene (Kramer) Martina.

Kathleen was born in Buffalo, N.Y., on July 3, 1932. She attended Nardin Academy and received her bachelors degree from D’Youville University, also completing graduate work at SUNY Fredonia.

She married Joseph Damiano of Dunkirk, N.Y., on Sept. 24, 1955, at Holy Angels Church in Buffalo, N.Y. They moved to Dunkirk in 1959. Kathleen was awarded an Experienced Teacher Fellowship, earning 24 graduate credits towards her master’s degree from Fredonia State University and completed additional coursework in school administration. Kathleen taught at Brocton Central School for 19 years and retired in December of 1992.

Kathy was a devout Catholic and person of great faith. She was a parishioner of Holy Trinity church and member of the choir. She started her teaching career at Sacred Heart elementary school, continuing at Holy Trinity School and eventually retired from teaching at Brocton elementary school. She continued her focus of service by working parttime as the activity director at the Westfield nursing home. Kathy volunteered leading chair exercises at St. Columban’s Retirement Home and WCA Home for many years.

Kathleen enjoyed many hobbies and especially loved to travel. She joined another retired teacher, Bonnie Jeffe, on camping trips throughout the United States and overseas teaching trips to Poland and Romania. Kathy also traveled to Italy, Sicily, Australia, Fiji and snorkeled in the Great Barrier Reef. Kathy even learned to ski in her late 50s.

She loved all things related to music, painting and gardening. Kathy enjoyed exhibiting her works at the County Fair every year, and was awarded numerous ribbons there. A long time member of the Chadwick Bay Garden Club, Kathy enjoyed gardening and flower arranging. She also enjoyed making scrapbooks for her children and grandchildren.

Kathy loved singing and besides being in the church choir, belonged to a quartet, Time Was, a group that sang World War II music with Sally and Frank Pullano, and Dick Webb. The group performed at the Lancaster opera House, Fredonia Opera House and the Athenaeum at Chautauqua. They also performed at many senior events and alumni affairs at SUNY Fredonia.

Besides her parents, she was predeceased by her husband, Joseph V. Damiano; and her two older brothers: Charles and John, and his wife Emily.

Kathy is survived by her sister, Louise Cavalier; sister-in-law, Kathryn Martina; son, Celestino (Dorothy) of Virginia Beach, Va.; and her daughter, Mary (Paul) of Fredonia, N.Y. She has five grandchildren: Michael (Anne), Angela, Cathryn, Theresa and Paul Damiano; and three great-grandchildren: Gianna, Joseph, and William.

Visitations will take place on Tuesday, Dec. 6 from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. at McGraw-Kowal Funeral Home in Dunkirk, N.Y. A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated on Dec. 7 at 11 a.m. at Holy Trinity Church, 1032 Central Ave, Dunkirk, NY 14048. The burial will immediately follow at Holy Trinity Cemetery in Dunkirk, N.Y.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that any donations be made to Northern Chautauqua Catholic School in Kathleen’s memory.