The death has taken place of Dr. Catherine "Kitty" Thornton at the age of 93.
The longtime Queens, New York resident and Mayo native was married to the late John Thornton, for many years the editor of the Irish Echo. John died in 2004.
The obituary for Kitty, published on the website of the Lynch Funeral home in Sunnyside, Queens reads: Catherine Thornton died December 2, 2024 at her home in Woodside. Catherine, lovingly known as Kitty Thornton, daughter of Thomas (Taylor) and Matilda Lyons, was born September 4, 1931 in a little village in the West of Ireland called Falleighter, Aughamore, Kilkelly, County Mayo.
Kitty was the youngest of 7 children, 4 brothers and 2 sisters: Mary, Jim (Australia), John, Tom (Scunthorpe), and Mick (Ireland). All are sadly deceased and survived by sister Nancy, living in Manchester, England. Kitty was a very bright scholar. She attended Falleighter National School and progressed to Ballyhaunis Secondary School, where she excelled.
Like many, she left Ireland to work in England, starting in Bradford with her sister Nancy. She went on to London and stayed there for four years before emigrating to America, where she met and married her beloved Jack Thornton, editor of The Irish Echo.
Kitty worked many years in a law office before going to Fordham University as a mature student. She gained a doctorate degree in economics and shared her knowledge by becoming a professor at St. John's University.
Kitty was an active member of her beloved St. Sebastian's Church, leading prayer and rosary groups and establishing the magnificent Corpus Christi procession in honor of Our Blessed Mother Mary. Faith and daily prayer was a pivotal part of her life.
Kitty was dedicated to her faith and, when visiting her native Ireland, loved nothing more than spending the day in Knock where Our Lady appeared.
Visitation will be Sunday, December 8 from 2-5PM and 7-9PM at Edward D. Lynch Funeral Home, Inc, 43-07 Queens Boulevard, Sunnyside, NY. Funeral Mass will be held 10:45 am on Monday, December 9, 2024 at St. Sebastians RCC, 58th Street And Roosevelt Avenue, Woodside, NY.
Burial will be in Calvary Cemetery, Woodside following the Mass. In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to the St. Sebastian's Capital Campaign Fund in Kitty's memory. She will be greatly missed and she is now in God's Hands.
