Hi everyone – it’s Cathy. I passed away at the age of 79. My family and I decided to have this written in my own words by my son - so here goes…
One of the few advantages of dying from Stage 4 cancer is that you have time to think about your obituary and tell your family what to write. The other advantages are no longer having to worry about the damn traffic on Rt 93 or where to park during snowstorms!
I’m a member of the Hurley family – my mother was Helen and my father was John. We had a house on School St but it was taken down to make way for the Warren Prescott School and we moved to Auburn St. I come from a family of 6 - it was myself, my sisters Joan and Sissy along with my brothers Skipper, Kevin and Brian.
I wanted to let everyone know that I loved spending my life in Charlestown! I have so many great memories of it and the people I grew up and spent my life with. It’s hard to describe, but there’s such a nice feeling to have had the ability to have grown up being a Townie. I grew up in the 50’s and 60’s in old school Charlestown. Anyone remember the Jokers or the Jokerettes? Well, those were my friends and boy – did we LIVE! I had so many wonderful childhood friends – Rita Boyden and I have SO many great memories of our times together. Her daughter Cathy was named after me and that meant the world to me. I loved the St Catherine’s dances, sledding down the hill at Born bread in the winter, watching my father build things in our basement and all of the 17th of June celebrations.
It was my son Jay Wallus and I for a few years and then I met my husband Tom in 1974 (who also died of cancer in 2010). We were married in 1975 and had 2 children, Tommy and Heather. Tom was another lifelong Townie and a huge Patriots fan – even when they were terrible. He would sit there every Sunday and watch them lose. I never understood it, but he was so happy when they won their first Superbowl.
My sister Sissy and I had an idea to start a house cleaning business (Spotless Cleaners!) in the early 80’s. We got it going by sticking our business cards under the apartment doors and having my daughter Heather pass out flyers down the Navy Yard. We had so many laughs trying to get new customers while running away from the security guard who told us there was no soliciting . We loved all of our clients - they were all so nice to us! That business was really hard work, but we loved it because it helped us to put our kids through school.
What did I really enjoy in my life? When I was younger, I loved going up to my sister Joan’s house in Jaffrey NH in the summer and heading down to Quincy to visit my sister Sissy and her family. More recently, I loved going to the casinos on the bus with my friends from the Tuft St Ladies Club – they were SO wonderful to spend time with. My neighbor Dolly and I had so many fun times drinking Coffee Coolattas and playing our numbers down Store 24. My favorite meal ? Steamed lobster with butter of course and a chocolate frappe for dessert.
One of my favorite days of the year was Christmas Eve. We would splurge and get shrimp cocktail, I would light candles and we’d play Christmas music. Yes, our apartment in Newtown was small and cramped, but none of us cared – we were all together.
I have Jay and his wife Maggie, Tommy and his wife Stacy and Heather and her husband Mike – all of them did so many wonderful things for me – all in their own unique way. I have 6 grandchildren: Jayna, Lily, Gavin, Ayla, Connor, and Olivia. I’m going to miss them so much! I was their nanny and enjoyed every minute of being with them. I also have SO many wonderful nieces and nephews that I always tried to be the fun aunt that they could talk to – I hope I was that to all of you.
I was so fortunate to have such a huge outpouring of support from all of my family and friends (Fr Coyne even called me!) when I was diagnosed with cancer. So many of you made the time to come and see me before I passed and I was so happy that you did – I got to relive so many memories that to be honest – I totally forgot about! All of the people at The Mass General Cancer Center were so nice to me every time I came in for an appointment – it was a scary time, but they helped me and my family so much.
I want all of my friends and family to know that even though this damn cancer got the best of me, that I will always be with you in spirit. I promise I will leave you signs – each and every one of you. When you see a sign and think of me – it is me.That’ll be my way of letting you know that I’m still around and thinking of you.
Anyway, instead of spending money on flowers or any stuff like that, when you see someone who needs it – take the time to talk with them and spend a few minutes, it’s free and it’ll mean the world to them….
Love ya!
XOXO
Cathy
Relatives and friends are invited to attend Cathy's Funeral Mass on Saturday, February 26, 2022 at 11 A.M. in St. Francis De Sales Church, 313 Bunker Hill St. Charlestown(MASKS ARE REQUIRED INSIDE OF CHURCH). Her burial will be private. There are no funeral home visiting hours.