Kathleen Veronica Mortell

Kathleen Veronica Mortell passed away peacefully on December 13th, 2022 at her home in Chatham with her family by her side. She was reunited with her recently deceased husband, John “Jack” Mortell, on what would have been his 89th birthday.

Born and raised in the Pelham Bay section of the Bronx, NY in 1933 to Edward & Catherine O’Shaughnessy, she was their third and youngest child, and the last surviving O’Shaughnessy.

After graduating from St. Thomas Aquinas in the Bronx, she followed her calling and entered the Convent of the Dominican Sisters of Sparkill in 1951. She was professed in 1953 and took her final vows in 1958.

In the fall of 1953 Sister Catherine Joseph, OP began her teaching career at St. Theresa’s in Woodside Long Island — with 90 third graders a day. In 1958 she was sent to Mount Carmel School in Middle Town, in 1960 to St. Pius in Scarsdale, and in 1962 she returned to the Bronx to St. Joseph’s.

On Saturdays Kathleen attended St. John’s University and received her Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education and then Fordham University for her Masters of Science in Education. School breaks and summers were spent working at nursery schools and camps.

In 1967 she was sent to study Spanish at Cardinal Hayes High School, and that summer to the University of Puerto Rico. She returned fluent and ready to help the children of changing neighborhoods in the Bronx — in both English and Spanish. She was known to break up a few gang fights in full Dominican habit.

Later in 1967 she was sent to St. Rita’s in the Bronx where she served as both Mother Superior of the convent and Principal of the school. She maintained her positions as St. Rita’s merged with St. Jerome, and again with St. Luke.

She left her religious life in 1971 and initiated the Head Start Program as the Director of the Bathgate Day Care Center in the Bronx.

She married the love of her life, Jack, in 1974 and had their only child, Christopher, in 1977.

The Mortell family moved to Fair Lawn, NJ in 1978 to be closer to Jack’s family. While caring for her young son, her mother, and father-in-law, Kathleen began substitute teaching at St. Anne’s. When Christopher entered Radburn Pre-School — armed with quite a bit of experience — she began working there as well.

In 1980 she began working at Bergen County Special Services, while at the same time offering her own private tutoring services. In addition to a variety of preparatory tutoring, she also performed bedside tutoring — many times inviting immigrant parents and grandparents to the table to teach them the lessons they never had the opportunity to learn.

Kathleen served as President of the College Club, President of the PTA, President of the Radburn Board of Trustees, and not surprisingly as a CCD teacher. She supported any organization that furthered education, community, or faith.

After retiring, Kathleen & Jack moved to Belvidere, NJ and continued to travel the world — until she was called upon for one more very special student. She and Jack moved to Chatham, MA in 2015 in anticipation of their grandson, John “Jack” Ignatius Mortell.

She firmly believed, “Give me the child until he is seven, and I will show you the man.” She helped teach Jack to speak, read, write, and to develop his math skills, and most importantly, his faith.

Kathleen is survived by her son Christopher Mortell, her son-in-law Ignacio Mortell, and her grandson Jack. She is survived by her treasured cousins, nephews, nieces, grandnephews and nieces, as well as a multitude of cherished friends.

She is also survived by the thousands and thousands of students she taught. Thousands and thousands of minds challenged and souls nurtured — and each one the better for having known her.

On January 14th, 2023 visiting hours will be held at Nickerson Funeral Home in Chatham, MA from 8:30 am to 9:30 am, followed by a Funeral Mass at Holy Redeemer at 10:00 am. The service will also be live streamed at HolyRedeemerChatham.org. Burial will follow at the Union Cemetery in Chatham.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in her name to Broad Reach Hospice at 390 Orleans Road, North Chatham, MA 02650.