On March 31, 2023, Catherine Nolan O’Connell of Austin, Texas, beloved wife of 64 years of Kevin Joseph O’Connell, and mother to four children and eight grandchildren who adored her, passed away at age 96.
Cathy was a devoted wife, mother, daughter, sister and friend who lived and loved with extraordinary passion and joy. Mom’s was a life in full, extraordinarily well lived by any measure. Born on November 27, 1926 on a farm in Athlone, Co. Roscommon, Ireland, she was one of ten children born to Thomas and Margaret Nolan.
Cathy first attended Drum and Camcloon National Schools in Athlone and then studied at Dunmore Secondary School in Galway, Ireland. After a short stint working in London, she immigrated to the United States in 1952, initially living in Chicago and then New York City.
Cathy had an enduring passion for dancing and on March 4, 1957, she went to a dance at the Yorkville Casino in New York City. There, she was asked to dance to “Marianne” by our dad Kevin, and so began a lifelong love affair that saw them married on October 11, 1958. She loved to tell the story of that dance, and Kevin’s offer to buy her a drink after the dance, a moment made only more memorable when she discovered that he had no money in his wallet!
Mom and Dad lived in New York until 1979, when they moved to Austin and there made a home for the last 43 years. Together, they traveled the globe, visiting family and sites in Alaska, Australia, Chuuk, Saipan, Rota, Europe, Hawaii, New Zealand, Fiji, Tahiti, South Africa and Zambia, and of course visits with family in Ireland. They had a particular love of Barefoot Windjammer Cruises and travelled throughout the Caribbean, where they made friends in every port.
Cathy was ambitious and hardworking, and respected by her colleagues at Prentice Hall in New York. After moving to Austin, she commenced a long and successful career at the Austin Independent School District, from which she retired in 2009 after a career of 29 years. Even with her career success, her life was centered on Dad and her family. When her older sons were young, she served as a Football Team Mom with the North Rockland Red Raiders in New York and throughout her children’s lives, participated in countless activities and fundraising events in support of their multiple interests.
Cathy was an extraordinary woman in every respect. She was glamorous and had a wonderful sense of humor and a unique capacity to entertain. She delighted in good “craic” and song and was just fun to be around – the room was never dull with her in it. She was selfless and caring, and just an incredible wife, mother, and grandmother.
Cathy is survived by her loving and doting husband Kevin, who still calls her his “bride” after 64 years of marriage, and her adoring children: Liam and his wife Bernadette of Cohasset, Massachusetts; Kevin and his wife Lydia of San Antonio; Sean and his fiancé Amber Drown of Austin; and Tara and her husband Gavin Geraghty of Hanoi, Vietnam. She is also survived by her grandchildren Caitlin, Kevin, Brendan and Liam (Liam and Bernadette), Aiden, Dylan and Michael (Kevin and Lydia), Namara (Tara and Gavin), and expected baby (Sean and Amber) who all adored her, as no birthday or achievement went unnoticed, and visits to Nanny’s were always more fun than home! She is also survived by her sister Betty Wilkinson and brother John Nolan of Australia and her sister Bernadette Nolan of New York City and many nieces, nephews and cousins.
Cathy was preceded in passing by her siblings Christopher (Christy) Nolan, Mary Nolan, Owen (Eugene) Nolan, Margaret (Hilda) Vetere, James (Jimmy) Nolan, and Bridget Doyle.
A wake will be held Tuesday, April 4, 2023 from 4:00-8:00pm at Cook & Walden Funeral Home, 6100 North Lamar in Austin. A Funeral Mass will be held on Wednesday, April 5, 2023 at St. Thomas More Catholic Church, 10205 FM 620 N, Austin, Texas at 1:00 pm. The Mass will be livestreamed for those who are unable to attend in person.
Our Mom lived her life with a deep faith, and gratitude in the goodness and wonder of the world and those she met in it. She made friends wherever she went and lived life with a passion – devoted to her family and friends and committed to the joys that each new day brought. While we are grateful for the blessing of her 96 years, we will miss her beyond measure, never forget her and love her always.
We invite those who have memories, thoughts or photos of our mom and her life to share them with us below (please scroll down), so that we can have them for her grandchildren in years to come.
Our family would like to thank the incredibly thoughtful and devoted caregivers who helped our mom and family in the last few years of our mom’s remarkable life. We are so grateful for all you have done.
We look forward to seeing you again in heaven Mom!
