Catherine "Kitty" Lacy

Catherine better known as ‘Kitty’ passed away peacefully in her sleep on Monday, December 16, 2024, one month shy of her 93 rd birthday. Kitty was a happy, healthy nonagenarian living on her own until Christmas Day 2023 when she suffered two strokes leaving her paralyzed and in Hospice care for the past year. 

Born in New York City and schooled in Catholic schools Kitty was a deeply religious person from a young age. So much so that her original career intention was to become a nun. But that all changed when she met Stephen Lacy. They married in 1952 and moved to the suburbs of Long Island with plans to have a large family. Their first child, Catherine Angela was born in 1953. After the loss of a second child, Margaret and a miscarriage, Kitty made a vow to go to church everyday for the rest of her life if she could successfully have another child. Her prayers worked as that child, Christine, is the author of this obituary. For 60 years Kitty went to church every day of her life as well as assisted with church functions and participated in church events making lifelong friends along the way.

Prior to moving to Long Island, Kitty worked for many years in the Personnel Department of Macy’s Herald Square. In 1989 Kitty moved to Coral Springs, Florida and worked as a nanny for three different families over eleven years. In 2000 Kitty was delighted to welcome her one and only grandchild Kelly and spent the next many years helping to babysit Kelly and take her to and from school. In her spare time, Kitty spent countless hours at Saint Andrews Catholic Church, socializing with friends and family and donating to an endless list of charities.

In lieu of a more traditional obituary, Kitty left this poem for people to remember her:

To Those Whom I Love & Those Who Love Me

When I am gone, release me, let me go.

I have so many things to see and do,

You mustn't tie yourself to me with too many tears,

But be thankful we had so many good years.

I gave you my love, and you can only guess

How much you've given me in happiness.

I thank you for the love that you have shown,

But now it is time I traveled on alone.

So grieve for me a while, if grieve you must,

Then let your grief be comforted by trust.

It is only for a while that we must part,

So treasure the memories within your heart.

I won't be far away for life goes on.

And if you need me, call and I will come.

Though you can't see or touch me, I will be near.

And if you listen with your heart, you'll hear,

All my love around you soft and clear.

And then, when you come this way alone,

I'll greet you with a smile and a 'Welcome Home'.

Kitty is survived by her daughters Cathy and Christine, her granddaughter Kelly Rae, two son in-laws Michael Sheridan and Greg Fuchs, brother in-law Joe Lacy, sister in-law Lynell Lacy, nieces Carol Ann Conlan Long, Teresa Lacy, Maria Bobbins, Margie Riles and nephew Billy Conlan and their families.

Donations can be made to Kitty’s favorite charity, Habitat for Humanity at www.habitat.org