Katherine C. “Kay” Morrissey
Katherine C. Morrissey, age 97, passed away peacefully at her home on Tuesday, December 7, surrounded by family. Loving wife of the late James J.; Cherished mother of Daniel (Mary Beth), Michael (Nancy), Jamie (Dr. Edwin) Zarling, Thomas (Carole), Mary Kay (John) Gilger, Patrick, Raymond (Lisa), Joe (Mark), and the late John Paul; Proud grandmother of 23, including the late Brian and William Zarling; Dear great-grandmother of 12; Devoted daughter of the late Paul and Ramona Carroll; Beloved sister of the late Frances and Ramona Carroll.
Kay was a well-educated, cultured and caring woman devoted to her family, her friends, and her faith. The oldest of 3 girls, Kay was raised in the St Thomas the Apostle Parish in Chicago’s Hyde Park neighborhood. Following the example of their mother and their grandmother, Kay and her sisters went on to become teachers. Kay attended Chicago Teachers College where she was class Vice President. Kay made cherished friendships in college that lasted a lifetime. Kay always taught children in primary school at the Chicago Public Schools, usually first grade. She loved little children.
In 1960 while attending a dance, she met her future husband, James J. Morrissey (Jim). Jim was a young attorney, who in 1957 lost his first wife to Polio, and was raising their four young children with the help of their grandparents. In August of 1960, Kay and Jim were married, and Kay became an instant mother. At that point, Kay then took a break from teaching to focus on caring for her growing family. By 1967, that family had grown to include nine children.
Kay used her skills as a teacher to successfully guide her family through all aspects of life. She and Jim made their home in Christ the King Parish, in Chicago’s Beverly neighborhood. Kay and Jim’s home was always a welcoming place, not only for her family, but for any friend that one of her children brought home. Breakfast, lunch, dinner and often a bed were always available. Holidays were always celebrated at home and included a regular cast of dozens of family members and friends. Christmas always saw a sea of gifts overflowing around the Christmas tree. Her home, like her heart, was full – full of children, friends, laughter and love.
Kay also relished her time with her friends. Her two best friends were her ever-present younger sisters, Frances and Ramona. The three sisters talked daily and shared everything. She had her “club,” her dear life-long friends from Chicago Teachers College, who got together every month to have a martini, an old fashioned, or maybe a chardonnay, and gab about life’s twists and turns. She was a founding member of the “the Beverly Beauties,” neighbor women who were likewise raising large families across the street or right down the block. Later, she would join the Acacia Condos’ singing group, and occasionally even play the ukulele. There were always bridge parties, summer gatherings, and Fourth of July BBQ and fireworks events.
In early 1980s, after all but her youngest had gone off to college, she returned to teaching for another 5 years in the Chicago Public Schools. With new-found free time, in the late 1980’s and 90’s, Kay stepped in to help raise the next generation of her family, watching over and nurturing her grandchildren regularly. In the mid-1990’s, Kay moved to the Western Suburbs to be closer to some of her younger grandchildren. Just as she had with her own children, Kay nurtured those grandchildren, teaching them by example to be kind, but also making sure they practiced their piano and did all their homework.
Even in the last few years, Kay would light up when her youngest grandchildren and then great-grandchildren would visit her. By then in her late 90s, Kay was still always ready to sing songs and clap hands with them, passing on her infectious joy for life. Always the teacher, of course, she never hesitated to quiz them with math facts or an impromptu spelling test.
Kay also managed to care for others. For over twenty years she found time to regularly volunteer for the Women’s Center on Chicago’s south side. There, she helped make sure that underprivileged expectant mothers had proper medical care and supplies for raising healthy children.
December 18, 2021 – 11:00am cst
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