Kathleen Mary Burnham

Kathleen, wife of Deacon Bruce, loving mother of Kellie, Kasey and Brynn. Devoted grandmother to Justin, Chloe, Melody, Kayleigh and Lucas. She was raised in a household of Irish Catholic immigrants. She grew up in the Yorkville section of Manhattan. She was educated in Catholic schools. She met Bruce in 1966 at what Bruce always refers to as Paradise (a nightclub in Brooklyn). Bruce says it was in that moment she stole his heart. Not only that, but she also stole him away from a friend of hers. Her Irish Catholic family had a very hard time accepting the fact that this son of a Pentecostal minister, and worst of all, a sailor was to become part of the family. Kathy and Bruce were married in 1968 right after Bruce came back from Vietnam and have been together for 57 years. Two years after her first child Kellie was born, they left the city, it was 1971 when they moved to Freeport to raise their family. Kathy’s mom and dad lived with them until they passed in April of 1978. On the day of her father’s funeral, she gave birth to her second child, Kasey. It was the passing of her parents that marked her husband’s conversion to the Catholic faith. In July of 1983 she gave birth to her third daughter Brynn. Kathy and Bruce became very active in The Charismatic renewal and Kathy would go on to found the Women’s Fellowship at Our Holy Redeemer. which later lead to “Jesus Unites” a Ecumenical gathering of the churches in Freeport. In the mid eighties she became a Eucharistic Minister and really loved bringing communion to the sick especially doing the service at South Shore Nursing Home. She loved to talk about the wonderful elderly people she visited there. Kathy was also a Catechist; she taught many grade levels but the one she loved doing most was for those children preparing for Confirmation. This gifted lady loved her flower gardens and plants, but most of all loved crafting and she was so good at creating things of beauty. She loved quilting most and went on to teach it to many. Many of her quilts were raffled here at Our Holy Redeemer to raise money for those in need. She was the President of Freeport Homemakers for 2 years. Her love for meeting people lead her into becoming a waitress and she was so good at bringing a smile to some of the coldest hearts. Everyone loved her sense of humor. She was always going out of her way to please others. Most of all, she lived to take care of the family she loved more than life itself.

Kathleen Mary Burnham

June 16, 1943 - April 1, 2025