Mary Kathleen "Katy" Crowe

1941 - 2014

NORTH HORNELL - Mary Kathleen "Katy" Crowe, 73, a very devoted, loyal and caring wife, mother, teacher and friend, passed away peacefully, in the presence of her loving family, late Thursday afternoon (Feb. 13, 2014) at her home on First St., after a long illness.

Born in Hornell on Jan. 22, 1941, she was a daughter of the late Stephen "Hon" and Josephine Donnelly Meyers. Besides her parents, she was also predeceased by her two sisters, Mary Elizabeth "Tish" Meyers and Joanne Meyers; her stepmother, Marion Meyers; her aunt and uncle, Helen and Henry "Buddy" Jarrett; her cousin, David Jarrett; her father-in-law and mother-in-law, Paul and Gertrude Crowe; her two sisters-in-law, Beverly Williams and Patricia Capluzzi and her brother-in-law, John Crowe.

A native and life-long resident of Hornell, Katy has resided in the Village of North Hornell for the past 46 years. She was a graduate of Hornell High School, class of 1959 and she received her bachelor's degree from SUNY Potsdam and her master's degree from Elmira College.

For 35 years she dedicated her life to education and passionately taught for the Hornell City School District at the North Hornell School and later at the Hornell Intermediate School where she taught fifth grade. She retired in 1998.

Katy was a very devout member of Our Lady of the Valley Parish and was a communicant of St. Ignatius Loyola Church and most recently at St. Ann's Church in Hornell. She was an avid bowler and golfer and was a member of Twin Hickory Golf Course in Hornell where she played with the Twilight League for many years. Katy was also an avid reader and also enjoyed watching Jeopardy (she would never miss an answer!) and doing crossword puzzles, especially the New York Times.

She was good and compassionate person who was very proud of her Irish heritage. Katy will be remembered most of all for her wit and great sense of humor and for being a wonderful conversationalist.

Her loving family includes her husband of 46 years, Michael Crowe, who she married at St. Ignatius Loyola Church in Hornell on Oct. 14, 1967; her daughter, Damian Crowe of Boston, Mass.; her "special daughter", Jenny Donlon of Hornell; her cousin, who was like a sister to her, Mary Ellen "Pudge" (Charles) Padula of North Port, Fla.; her three sisters-in-law, Kathryn (Rich) Hartwell, Mary Margaret Crowe and Ellen Crowe, all of Hornell; her brother-in-law, Paul (Barbara) Crowe of North Hornell; also her nieces and nephews.

Her family would like to express their sincere appreciation to CareFirst Hospice for their wonderful care.

Calling hours are from 4-7 p.m. Tuesday at the Bishop & Johnson Funeral Home, Inc., 285 Main St., Hornell. Friends are invited to meet her family at St. Ann's Church, where a Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11 a.m. Wednesday. Interment will follow at St. Mary's Cemetery, Town of Fremont.

In lieu of flowers, those wishing may contribute in her memory to either St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, 262 Danny Thomas Place, Memphis, Tenn. 38105 or to CareFirst Hospice, 11751 E. Corning Road, Corning, NY 14830-3657. Envelopes for memorial contributions will be available at the funeral home.

Online condolences or remembrances of Katy are welcomed at www.bishopandjohnsonfuneralhome.com.