Catherine A. “Kay” (Crispo) Ward-Cullinane, 86, of South Yarmouth, formerly of Woburn, passed away December 22, 2014 in the Windsor Nursing Home in Yarmouth.
Born in Medford, she was the daughter of the late John and Catherine V. Crispo. Kay was raised and educated in Medford. She worked for John Hancock for several years, Renton’s Market in Winchester, and for many years in the Treasurer’s Office at Woburn City Hall.
In her early years, Kay was an avid bowler and belonged to many different bowling leagues affiliated with the Woburn Bowling Alleys. She was the life of a party. She loved surprise parties, both to throw them and to be the receiver of one. She loved to sing and dance. She was very social and humor was her gift. Her goal in life was to make people laugh and she always succeeded. She was proud of all three of her children, her grandchildren, her great-grandchildren, her sisters and the many nieces and nephews that she had. She lit up when she was surrounded by others - she loved being center stage.
While residing in the nursing home in her later years she became an advocate for residents’ rights. She was the voice for some who couldn't find theirs anymore. She would go to the rooms of people that couldn't get around anymore and play a game of cribbage, or just sit and visit. She was the caller for the bingo games and volunteered to entertain in various shows held for the residents of the home. To the end she always tried to find a joke or humor despite her troubles. She will live on in all of us and will be so, so missed.
Kay was the loving mother of Joseph J. Cullinane, Karen A. (Cullinane-Flynn) Gaumont and husband Gary, and Dianne M. Cullinane and partner Cheryll Dossas. She was also the loving sister to Joan Oteri of CA, Mary Larsen, WA, the late Ellen LoPresti, FL, and the late Betty Guill, CA . She is further lovingly survived by two grandchildren, Michael J. Flynn and Stephanie M. Flynn, and two great-grandchildren Brendan Flynn and Kristina Gustafson. Relatives and friends are kindly invited to gather at Costello Funeral Home, 177 Washington Street, Winchester, on Sun., Jan. 4 from 2-5PM. In lieu of flowers, donations in Kay’s memory may be made to The Simmons Fund, Simmons College, 300 The Fenway, Boston, MA 02115.