MARBLEHEAD — It is with great sadness we announce the passing of Kathleen (Thompson) Canavan, 67, of Marblehead, on Thursday, March 5, 2020. As in life, Kathie spent her final days surrounded by her loving family and friends, who meant the world to her.
Born in Lynn on Jan. 3, 1953, Kathie’s parents, the late Luke E. and Ann (Daley) Thompson, left for the hospital expecting to return with one infant, but were delighted to have been blessed with two. Raised in Swampscott, Kathleen and her identical twin sister Maureen joined older brother Luke, twin brothers Terrance and Timothy, and sister Colleen. Two years later, the family welcomed Kevin and was complete. As one of seven siblings, all with beautiful red hair and blue eyes, family was everything to Kathie. Her tight bond with all of her brothers and sisters was something she held close.
Kathie was still in high school when she met the love of her life, Paul Canavan. Throughout their 51 years together, it was immediately apparent to all who met them that they were crazy about each other. Paul often called her Red, a nickname she shared with her father, who had passed away when she was a child. After Kathie graduated from Swampscott High School and later Salem State College, where she earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Education, Kathie and Paul were married and later welcomed daughters Kelly and Katie, whom they raised in Marblehead.
Kathie shared her passion for learning and reading as a first grade teacher in the Swampscott School System, retiring from Clarke School in 2014 after 25 years of dedicated service. Kathie was a master of kindness and loved her students beyond measure.
During school breaks and summers, and later retirement, Kathie and Paul would travel with family and friends. Whether it was a Caribbean cruise, a Hawaiian adventure, or a heritage road trip through Ireland, Kathie loved to travel. She also cherished her time at her camp in Freedom, N.H., which she always called her “happy place.” None of the destinations in the world could ever compete with her favorite activity: spending time with her daughters, and their families including her four grandchildren who were her world.
Kathleen is survived by her beloved husband of 45 years Paul; her cherished daughters, Kelly McCann and her husband Joshua of Malta, N.Y., and Katie Theriault and her husband Mark of Reading; her grandchildren, Jack and James McCann, and Drew and Emily Theriault; her brothers, Terrance Thompson of Naples, Maine, and Kevin Thompson of Swampscott; her devoted sister, Colleen Thompson-Wilkens and husband Peter of Marblehead; and many, many nieces and nephews. She is predeceased by her brothers Luke and Timothy Thompson and her identical twin sister Maureen Ingram.
Service information: Kathleen’s visiting hours will be held on Tuesday, March 10, 2020 from 4-8 p.m. at the CUFFE-MCGINN Funeral Home, 157 Maple St., Lynn. Her funeral will be held on Wednesday, March 11, 2020 from the Cuffe-McGinn Funeral Home at 9 a.m. A funeral Mass will follow at St. John the Evangelist Church, 174 Humphrey St., Swampscott, at 10 a.m. Interment will be private. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made in Kathleen’s name to the Maureen Ingram Scholarship Fund, c/o Eastern Bank, 405 Paradise Road, Swampscott, MA 01907.
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