Katherine L. (Sites) Oldham, 91, a lifelong resident of Brockton, passed away on Thursday, March 28, 2013 after a long period of failing health. She was the widow of Richard E. Oldham, who died in 1980, and was also predeceased by her close friend, Norman J. Wells, late of Randolph. She was the daughter of the late John G. and Katherine (Daley) Sites.
Mrs. Oldham graduated from Brockton High School in 1939, from Bridgewater State College in 1944, and for 47 years was a teacher in the Brockton School System from 1944 until her retirement in 1991, primarily at the Winthrop School. She served on the reunion committees for both of her classes, and was a founding teacher in the Title I reading program in the Brockton School System.
Mrs. Oldham loved her teaching career, enjoyed travel, and particularly enjoyed her summer cottage in the Ocean Bluff section of Marshfield. After her retirement, she continued to volunteer as a guest reader in the Brockton Schools. At the time of her retirement, the Richard E. and Katherine L. Oldham scholarship was founded, providing funds for students of the Winthrop School to help defray college expenses. She also was an avid swimmer, and won the first place trophy for the Brockton swimming competition in 1940.
Mrs. Oldham is survived by her brothers, J. George Sites of Brockton, and Roger F. Sites of Fall River; she is also survived by five nieces and nephews, John G. Sites of Pembroke, Steven Sites of Berkley, California, Susan Barca of Mansfield, Michael G. Sites of Mattapoisett, and Jo-Anne Lombardo of East Taunton. She is also survived by her great-nieces and great-nephews, Heather Brooke Sites of Boston, Jessica Leigh Sites of Longmeadow, Massachusetts, Alexandra Barca of Mansfield, and Brendon Barca of Mansfield. Mrs. Oldham’s family wishes to express their gratitude to Old Colony Hospice for the loving and tender care given to her in her last weeks, and also to the staff at Heights Crossing Assisted Living in Brockton, for the wonderful care given to her for her last months.
Relatives and friends are cordially invited to the Conley Funeral and Cremation Service at 138 Belmont Street, Brockton, MA, on Thursday, April 4, 2013, for calling hours from 3 p.m. – 7 p.m. On Friday, April 5, a funeral procession will form at 9:30 a.m. at the funeral home, with a funeral mass to be celebrated at Saint Edith Stein Parish, beginning at 10:30 a.m. Interment will immediately follow at Pine Hill Cemetery in West Bridgewater, MA. In lieu of flowers, donations are requested to be made in Mrs. Oldham’s name to the Brockton Education Foundation, c/o Brockton Public Schools, 43 Crescent Street, Brockton, MA 02301 for the purchase of books for the library of the Louis Angelo School, or to Old Colony Hospice, 1 Credit Union Way, Randolph, MA 02368.