Official Obituary of
Kathleen M. Papich
April 23, 1925 ~ January 4, 2017 (age 91) 91 Years Old
Kathleen Papich Obituary
Kathleen Papich, 91 years old, died peacefully in Anaconda on January 4, 2017 surrounded by her family and friends.
Kathleen spent the majority of her 91 years in Anaconda. She was the youngest of four children born to Michael P. and Anna Mahoney (né O'Leary) on April 23, 1925. She attended St. Paul's School, Anaconda Junior High School and graduated from Anaconda High School in 1943. She then went on to St. Mary's College in Xavier, Kansas and graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Home Economics and Chemistry in 1947.
She returned to Anaconda to teach Home Economics at the Anaconda Junior High School. She taught school only briefly, because one of the other teachers and football coach at the school, Michael Papich from Butte, stopped by her classroom regularly - ostensibly to sample the cooking going on - but eventually to propose marriage on Valentine's Day. They were married on June 7, 1950 in Missoula Montana and started a family. Eight children followed: Michael (deceased in 1986), Stevan (Bellingham Washington), Daniel (deceased in 1952), John (Spokane Washington), Mark (Cary North Carolina), Marianne (Bremerton Washington), Tim (Denver Colorado), and Jeremy (deceased in 1965). She was blessed with 11 grandchildren and their spouses: Christopher (Jennie), Mark (Kim), Gregory (Tiffanie), Lindsay, Andrew, Emily, Michael, Daniel, Aaron (Kallie), Theresa, Sarah, and six great-grandchildren. Kathleen had four daughters-in-law and a son-in-law whom she loved dearly. She referred to her daughters-in-law as the Four M's (Marcia, Mary Lou, Mary, and Marcy), who considered her a friend and confidant; her son-in-law Doug was also one of her best friends. She had many nieces and nephews, including Christine Swanson (Crozet Virginia) all of whom have many memories of their visits at her home. She was also a "second mother" to many of her children's friends.
Her husband of 28 years, Michael, died in 1978. She was also preceded in death by her brother Eugene Mahoney, and her sisters Sylvia Gallagher, and Anna Mae Turnipseed.
Kathleen loved her church. She was a member of St. Peter's Church, St. Paul's Church, and most recently Anaconda's Holy Family Catholic Church.
Kathleen was an outstanding cook and an expert on high-altitude baking. She was the "Queen of Oak Street" where she lived for over 60 years until the time of her passing. Friends, bridge partners, family, and neighbors always knew they were welcome to stop by. They were greeted by her warm hospitality, love, and always some pie, cookies, or anything else she had recently baked.
Kathleen's family would like to thank the team at Anaconda Community Hospital for their care and support during her illness. They also thank Kathleen's dear friend Gisela Zinck, who was instrumental in helping Kathleen maintain the independence to live in her home until the day she died.
A memorial service and Mass will be held on Saturday, January 28, 2017 at 10:30 a.m. at Anaconda Holy Family Catholic Church, followed by a reception at the Anaconda Holy Family Church, and a private service burial at Mount Olivet Cemetery in Anaconda. There will be one hour of visitation prior to the funeral mass.
Donations may be sent to the Michael J Papich Scholarship fund at the University of Montana (http://supportum.org/guidetogiving/How%20to%20Give/default.php), the Holy Family Catholic Church of Anaconda (http://www.anacondacatholiccommunity.com/), or the Osteogenesis Imperfecta Foundation (http://www.oif.org/).
217 W. Pennsylvania Ave.
Anacoonda, MT 59711
217 W. Pennsylvania Ave.
Anacoonda, MT 59711
Kathleen spent the majority of her 91 years in Anaconda. She was the youngest of four children born to Michael P. and Anna Mahoney (né O'Leary) on April 23, 1925. She attended St. Paul's School, Anaconda Junior High School and graduated from Anaconda High School in 1943. She then went on to St. Mary's College in Xavier, Kansas and graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Home Economics and Chemistry in 1947.
She returned to Anaconda to teach Home Economics at the Anaconda Junior High School. She taught school only briefly, because one of the other teachers and football coach at the school, Michael Papich from Butte, stopped by her classroom regularly - ostensibly to sample the cooking going on - but eventually to propose marriage on Valentine's Day. They were married on June 7, 1950 in Missoula Montana and started a family. Eight children followed: Michael (deceased in 1986), Stevan (Bellingham Washington), Daniel (deceased in 1952), John (Spokane Washington), Mark (Cary North Carolina), Marianne (Bremerton Washington), Tim (Denver Colorado), and Jeremy (deceased in 1965). She was blessed with 11 grandchildren and their spouses: Christopher (Jennie), Mark (Kim), Gregory (Tiffanie), Lindsay, Andrew, Emily, Michael, Daniel, Aaron (Kallie), Theresa, Sarah, and six great-grandchildren. Kathleen had four daughters-in-law and a son-in-law whom she loved dearly. She referred to her daughters-in-law as the Four M's (Marcia, Mary Lou, Mary, and Marcy), who considered her a friend and confidant; her son-in-law Doug was also one of her best friends. She had many nieces and nephews, including Christine Swanson (Crozet Virginia) all of whom have many memories of their visits at her home. She was also a "second mother" to many of her children's friends.
Her husband of 28 years, Michael, died in 1978. She was also preceded in death by her brother Eugene Mahoney, and her sisters Sylvia Gallagher, and Anna Mae Turnipseed.
Kathleen loved her church. She was a member of St. Peter's Church, St. Paul's Church, and most recently Anaconda's Holy Family Catholic Church.
Kathleen was an outstanding cook and an expert on high-altitude baking. She was the "Queen of Oak Street" where she lived for over 60 years until the time of her passing. Friends, bridge partners, family, and neighbors always knew they were welcome to stop by. They were greeted by her warm hospitality, love, and always some pie, cookies, or anything else she had recently baked.
Kathleen's family would like to thank the team at Anaconda Community Hospital for their care and support during her illness. They also thank Kathleen's dear friend Gisela Zinck, who was instrumental in helping Kathleen maintain the independence to live in her home until the day she died.
A memorial service and Mass will be held on Saturday, January 28, 2017 at 10:30 a.m. at Anaconda Holy Family Catholic Church, followed by a reception at the Anaconda Holy Family Church, and a private service burial at Mount Olivet Cemetery in Anaconda. There will be one hour of visitation prior to the funeral mass.
Donations may be sent to the Michael J Papich Scholarship fund at the University of Montana (http://supportum.org/guidetogiving/How%20to%20Give/default.php), the Holy Family Catholic Church of Anaconda (http://www.anacondacatholiccommunity.com/), or the Osteogenesis Imperfecta Foundation (http://www.oif.org/).
Visitation
JAN 28. 9:30 AM - 10:30 AM (MST)
Holy Family Catholic Church217 W. Pennsylvania Ave.
Anacoonda, MT 59711
Mass of Christian Burial
JAN 28. 10:30 AM (MST)
Holy Family Catholic Church217 W. Pennsylvania Ave.
Anacoonda, MT 59711
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