Kathleen R. Cafasso Obituary
Kathleen (Ryan) Cafasso, 94, of Gloucester, passed away peacefully at her home on Friday, December 20, 2024, surrounded by her loving family. Kathleen, wife of the late Orlando Vincent Cafasso and daughter of the late W. Wallace and Sarah (Power) Ryan, was born in Gloucester on November 27, 1930. She was a graduate of Gloucester High School (class of 1948) and was one of only nine women in her graduating class at Massachusetts College of Pharmacy (1953).
Kathleen grew up spending time in her father's drug store, East Gloucester Pharmacy, and worked beside him as a pharmacist for many years in her early career. She later worked at Ciolino's Pharmacy and Addison Gilbert Hospital Pharmacy, retiring after a long career in 1994. As one of few women in the field of pharmacy at the time, she was a pioneer and inspiration to all who knew her.
A devout Catholic, Kathleen was an active participant in her parish communities as a Eucharistic Minister, lector, and Sunday School teacher. She was a member of the St. Peter's Church Sodality and later the Our Lady of Good Voyage Guild, where she served as an officer. She was a Girl Scouts leader and a member of the Board of Directors at Gloucester's YMCA. In retirement, Kathleen found a passion for genealogy — she was a member of the Gloucester Archives Committee and used her skills to help others discover and explore their own family histories.
Kathleen will be remembered for her love of family, sharp intellect, and pride for her Gloucester community. She loved swimming at Niles Beach on summer evenings and long walks along the boulevard and through East Gloucester. She and Vincent, her husband of 63 years, enjoyed traveling to many US states and other countries.
She is survived by her brother Robert Ryan and his wife Patricia; her daughters, Cynthia Cafasso Donaldson, Carol Cafasso, Valerie Marino and her husband Joseph, all from Gloucester, and Marie Royer of Santa Cruz, CA; her son, Robert Cafasso and his wife Syamala of Naples, FL; grandchildren, Sarah Rose Cafasso, Joseph Vincent Marino, Angela Kathleen Marino, Siena Eve Royer, Sarah Ortins and her husband Brian, Andrew Donaldson and his wife Katherine, Neela Kiely and her husband Chris; great-grandchildren, Caroline, Samantha, and William Ortins, Abigail and Sadie Donaldson, Liya, Sophie, and Rumi Kiely, and many nieces, nephews, and caregivers.
She was predeceased by her husband, Vincent; her infant sister, Mary Ryan; her sister, Eileen Muniz; her mother and father-in-law, Rosaria (Piantedosi) and Giovanni Cafasso; brothers-in-law, William and John Cafasso, and her son-in-law, William Donaldson.
Visiting hours will be held on Monday, December 23, from 5:00 to 7:00 PM in the Greely Funeral Home, 212 Washington Street, Gloucester. Her funeral mass will be celebrated on Tuesday, December 24th, at 9:00 AM in Our Lady of Good Voyage Church. Relatives and friends are cordially invited to attend. The burial will follow in Calvary Cemetery, Gloucester.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in Kathleen's name to the Our Lady of Good Voyage Church, 142 Prospect Street, Gloucester, MA 01930.
