Kathleen M. (Hayes) McGovern, a 60-year resident of Winchester, passed away on January 7, 2023 lovingly surrounded by her family. She was the beloved wife of the late Dr. Philip P. McGovern, Jr. for 50 years until his death in 2006.
Born in Medford, MA, she was the daughter of the late James H. and Eileen (Mahoney) Hayes. Kathy was raised in Allston and graduated from St. Columbkille High School. While in her teens and early twenties, she worked as a fashion model in Boston and New York, which allowed her to pay for Nursing School. As a nurse, Kathy worked in Boston and New York City hospitals, specializing in critical care nursing.
She met the love of her life, her husband Philip and their love took them to New York City where Kathy continued to work as a nurse while Philip attended medical school. His medical residency brought them to Worcester and then Cambridge City Hospital, and they ultimately made their home in Winchester, where they settled and raised their five children.
In her spare time, she could be found traveling with her husband and family, most notably to Walt Disney World and Ireland. She was an avid oil painter, loved to knit and had a beautiful singing voice. She always had a humorous, angelic personality that she brought to every adventure throughout her life.
The McGovern home always had an open door and was a welcome respite for family and friends. There were always extra seats at their table for whoever wanted or needed them. Her holiday dinners were legendary, not only for her family but also for Boston’s first responders. Working as a nurse Kathy understood how hard it was to work during the holidays, so for 25 years Kathy would prepare holiday dinners of turkeys, hams and all the fixings on Thanksgiving, Christmas and Easter for Boston EMS, Boston Police, several Boston hospitals and multiple other first responders. Boston EMS and the Boston Police Commissioner awarded Kathy for her 25 years of dedicated service to them.
A devout Catholic, Kathy was a dedicated parishioner of St. Mary’s Church in Winchester, where she taught CCD for 25 years.
Kathy is lovingly survived by her children: Philip P. “Tank” McGovern III, of Boston, Christopher J. McGovern and his wife Claudette, of North Reading, and Kathleen J. “Cass” McGovern of Winchester, the late Elizabeth M. McGovern, and the late David W. McGovern. She was the beloved grandmother of Stephanie E. Johnson and her husband Joel, Alexandria D. Nardella and her husband Matthew, Philip H. McGovern, TingTing McGovern. Great-grandmother of Calvin G. and Desmond P. Johnson. She was also the sister of Dorothy McDonough and her late husband Robert of Allston, and is further survived by several cousins, nieces and nephews.
Relatives and friends are kindly invited to gather for Visiting Hours at Costello Funeral Home, 177 Washington St., Winchester, on Friday, January 13 from 4-8PM, and again on Saturday, January 14 at 9AM, followed by a Funeral Mass in St. Mary’s Church, 155 Washington St., Winchester, MA 01890 at 10AM. Burial will follow in Wildwood Cemetery, Winchester. In lieu of flowers, donations in Kathy’s memory may be made to St. Mary’s Church at the address listed, or at https://www.stmary-winchester.org.