SPRINGFIELD – Kathleen M. “Kathy” Riordan, 76 of the Hungry Hill section of Springfield, was Called Safely Home on Wednesday, May 25, 2022. She passed into Eternal Life at her home surrounded by all the memories she loved and cherished. She was born in Springfield on December 31, 1945, the beloved daughter of the late Springfield Fire Lieutenant William C. “Mickey” Riordan who was Called Home on June 12, 1953 and the late Kathleen M. (Sullivan) Riordan who was Called Home on August 6, 2001. Kathy was raised in Springfield and was a lifelong resident of the city. She graduated from Sacred Heart Elementary School and later from Sacred Heart High School in 1963. She later graduated with Honors in 1967 from the College of Our Lady of the Elms in Chicopee with a Bachelor’s Degree in French. She furthered her education at Assumption College in Worcester and received a Master’s Degree in French in 1969. In 1980, Kathy received a Certificate of Advanced Study from the University of Massachusetts in Amherst and her Doctorate in Education in 1990. From 1968 to 1977, Kathy was a Foreign Language Teacher at West Springfield High School, Lexington High School and lastly at Kennedy Jr. High School, all in Springfield. In 1977, Kathy became the Director of Foreign Language for the Springfield School Department , a post she held until her retirement in 2002. She later was one of the Founding Members of the Pioneer Valley Chinese Immersion Charter School in Hadley. Kathy received the Distinguished Alumni Award from the College of Our Lady of the Elms in 1987 and was President of the Massachusetts Foreign Language Association where she received their Distinguished Service Award in 1990. She was also President of the American Council on Teaching Foreign Languages and, in 1997, received the Florence Steiner Leadership Award for K thru 12 Education. During her leisure time, Kathy loved to travel to many interesting places with her many friends. She traveled the world over five continents and 29 countries. Kathy was a lifelong communicant of Sacred Heart Church in Springfield, where she served her Parish as a Eucharistic Minister, a Parish Council member and a longtime member of the Church Choir. Kathy was an only child but leaves her numerous cherished cousins and a host of many wonderful friends. Her Funeral will be held on Monday, June 6, 2022 beginning at the St. Pierre – Phaneuf Springfield Chapels, (413-737-1177), 7 Chapin Terrace, Springfield, MA 01107, (funeral home will open at 8:30 a.m.), followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 10 a.m. at Sacred Heart Church, 395 Chestnut Street, Springfield, MA 01104. Her Burial will follow the Mass at Saint Michael Cemetery, 1601 State Street, Springfield, MA 01109. Her family will receive friends at the funeral home on Sunday, June 5, 2022 from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. In lieu of flowers, Kathy requested that memorial donations be made in her memory to the Sacred Heart Church Renovation Fund, 395 Chestnut Street, Springfield, MA 01104 or the College of Our Lady of the Elms Development Fund, 291 Springfield Street, Chicopee, MA 01013. For more details and to leave her family condolence messages, please visit:
www.stpierrephaneuf.com