Catherine “Cathy” Marie (Oliver) Looney, a lifelong resident of Winchester, passed away peacefully at home on Wednesday, March 26, 2025, surrounded by her loving family. She was 82 years old.
Born in Woburn, Cathy was the daughter of the late Karl E. and Elizabeth (Freeman) Oliver. She grew up in Winchester, attended St. Mary’s School, and graduated from Matignon High School in Cambridge. Cathy went on to earn her Registered Nursing Degree from the Mt. Auburn School of Nursing and began her career at Choate Hospital in Woburn. She later worked at Mt. Auburn Hospital in Cambridge and spent the final 35 years of her career in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at Winchester Hospital, where she found her true calling caring for premature babies.
Cathy loved traveling. She especially loved the beach and collecting seashells. She was especially fond of Crane Beach in Ipswich, Seconsett Island on Cape Cod, Florida, and Aruba. She was also fond of the mountains and woods including the woods of Thornton, NH. She was always on the go, having travelled to every continent except Australia. Later in life, Cathy loved caring for and watching her cherished grandchildren. She was a bargain shopper, always looking for the best deals, often scouring the store from top to bottom.
Catherine is survived by her loving husband, John M. Looney, her children: Christine M. Hennigan and her fiancé Dennis Macedo of Woburn and Timothy M. Looney and his wife Amy McAndrews of Boston. She was the beloved grandmother of Caitlin Elizabeth Looney, Riley John Hennigan, Delaney Catherine Hennigan and Michael David Looney and the sister of Elizabeth Spencer, Karl F. Oliver, Mary Ann Conner, Daniel Oliver, Ann Marie Oliver-Nickerson and the late John R. and David M. Oliver. She leaves behind many loving nieces, nephews, extended family members, and friends.
Cathy will be remembered for her deep compassion, her unwavering dedication to her family and patients, and her vibrant, adventurous spirit. Her warmth, kindness, and sense of humor touched everyone who had the privilege of knowing her.
Visitation will be held in the Costello Funeral Home, 177 Washington St., Winchester on Tuesday April 1st at 9 AM followed by a Funeral Mass in St. Mary’s Church, 155 Washington St., Winchester, at 11 AM. Interment is private. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Cathy’s memory to the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research. https://www.michaeljfox.org.