Katherine Johnston Ferrari

Katherine (Kathy) Johnston Ferrari, formerly of Naples, Fla. and Shrewsbury, Mass., passed away peacefully in Cary, North Carolina on November 18, 2023 at the age of 86. She was born in Greenfield, Mass. to Dr. Leonard (Roy) Johnston and Helen Johnston and was the eldest of four children. Kathy graduated from Greenfield High School, where she was valedictorian, and then earned a bachelor’s degree from the College of New Rochelle in New Rochelle, NY.

In 1960 she married Dudley Ferrari, then a medical student at the Columbia College of Physicians and Surgeons in New York City. Kathy and Dudley lived in New York City, Boston, Laredo, Texas, Miami, Fla., Manchester, Conn., and Shrewsbury before retiring to a wonderful life in Naples in 2002. After 19 enjoyable years there, Kathy and Dudley moved to the Waltonwood senior living community in Cary in November 2021, where they could receive the support and care they needed in their later years and be close to their youngest daughter Gail.

Kathy received a Master of Arts degree in education from Trinity College, Hartford, Conn in 1981 and spent nearly 20 years teaching English at a private school and several community and business colleges. She concluded her career at Quinsigamond Community College in Worcester, Mass. where she had the pleasure of teaching adults who were learning to read and write English for the first time.

Kathy is survived by her husband Dudley of 63 years of Cary, daughters Susan (Robert) Colleran and Gail (Charles) Marold, and son James (Gina), along with six grandchildren: Meredith, Mark, and Eric Colleran; Nicholas and Christopher Ferrari; and Allison Marold. She also leaves her sister Anne (Peter) Barry of South Hadley, Mass. Kathy was predeceased by her brother James, her sister Mary Hansen, and her parents Roy and Helen Johnston.

In Naples Kathy was a parishioner at St. John the Evangelist Church and St. Agnes Roman Catholic Church and was a volunteer at Literacy Volunteers of Bonita Springs. She was a member of Naples Newcomers and a charter member of Pearls of Naples. An avid reader, especially of biographies, she also enjoyed the Runaway Book Club.

Kathy was a loving wife, devoted mother, and enthusiastic grandmother who loved participating in family activities from both near and far. She was also a welcoming neighbor at The Strand in Naples and thoughtful and caring friend to many. Kathy was always quick with a kind and supportive word as well as meals, books, and other gifts to those in need. In her two years at Waltonwood, she was incredibly friendly to and appreciative of the many staff members and caregivers in independent living and assisted living who have taken care of her and Dudley. The family would like to thank Waltonwood and the visiting medical providers at Eventus WholeHealth for being thorough and passionate caregivers to Kathy.

A joint celebration of life and requiem Catholic Mass will be held in honor of both Dudley and Kathy Ferrari at St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church in Naples, Fla. on February 24, 2024 at 12:00 pm, followed by a reception. The Mass will be live streamed at https://sjecc.org/funeral-mass/. Memorial donations in his name may be made to the St. Vincent de Paul Society and Meals on Wheels. Written condolences may be sent to the family at 111 Barriedale Circle, Cary, NC 27519.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared below for the Ferrari family.