Catherine M. Engel

Kate, as she was known to family and friends, was born in Yonkers, NY on November 6, 1935. She was a wife, a mother and grandmother and a teacher who placed a premium on family, friends, and her students. My brother captured it: “Mom was selfless. She lived a long life for others, a simple but rare quality that few achieve.”

Kate graduated from Gorton High School in 1953. She attended St. Mary’s College in South Bend, Indiana, graduating magna cum laude in 1957 with a major in Math and a minor in Chemistry. Kate met her future husband, James Addison Engel, Jr. in Yonkers. They married in 1958 and had five children, spending their lives together in North Yonkers and summers at the beach in Bridgehampton, Long Island.

Her house was always open to her children’s friends. Kate celebrated the holidays in a big way -- organizing elaborate Easter egg hunts, decorating over-the-top Christmas trees, and cooking 21 vegetable dishes, in addition to two turkeys, for Thanksgiving (even though she did not particularly enjoy cooking). We were blessed with endless days at the beach for many summers.

When her children grew older, Kate became a teacher at Sacred Heart High School where she chaired the Math department until her retirement. She had a true talent for math. She had pi memorized to more than 20 decimal points. She frequently relaxed by solving math problems for fun, working through SAT math study guides and delighted when she was able to correct an error. Who does that for fun, after all?

After retiring from teaching, Kate moved to Sag Harbor, NY and helped raise two of her grandchildren, Catherine and Julia McNamara. Their parents are eternally grateful for her help. In her last years, Kate moved to Lutz, Florida, near her daughter Mary. Mary deserves a standing ovation from the rest of us for supporting our mother and overseeing her care.

There are so many memories. This summary barely scratches the surface. We will all miss Kate.

Kate was predeceased by her husband, Jay, in 1989, by her sister, Jennifer Steczynski, and her brother, Thomas “T-Bone” Queally. She is survived by her brother, Christopher Queally, as well as by her five children: Margaret Engel (Frank Capozzelli), Jay Engel (Consuelo Lamphere), Tim Engel (Carol Engel), Christine McNamara (Jim McNamara) and Mary Davies (Bill Davies). She had eleven grandchildren: Jane, Grace, Julia, James, Catherine, Julia, Jack, Kate, Christopher, Kenneth, and Jennifer; and one great-grandchild: Lily Ray.

God bless you, Kate!

Memorial visiting hours will be held at Whalen & Ball Funeral Home on Sunday April 13th from 3-7pm. Memorial Mass will be celebrated in Sacred Heart Church on Monday April 14th at 11am. Interment will follow at St. Joseph Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, please contribute to ZUMIX, a non-profit organization benefiting children through music that Kate supported. Contributions can be sent to the attention of Madeleine Steczynski, Executive Director, ZUMIX, 260 Sumner Street, East Boston, MA 02128.