Catherine Nolan

Nolan, Catherine. “Kay” "Kitty” (Horan) 80, of Denver, CO. formerly of Oranmore, Co. Galway and Brosna, Co. Kerry, Ireland, passed away peacefully surrounded by adoring family on October 10, 2021. The beloved wife of John Nolan of Denver, CO, formerly of Corker, Gort, Co. Galway, Ireland.

Loving mother of Sharon and her husband Kevin Brett of Denver, CO. and David and his wife Karen Nolan of Kingston, MA. Sister of Hannah May and her husband Michael Greally of Dublin, Ireland and Tom Horan (predeceased), and his wife Siobhan of Tralee, Co. Kerry, Ireland.

Grandchildren, Ceire Brett and Jack Brett, Evan Nolan and Robert Nolan. Nephews David Horan and family, Liam Horan and niece Noreen O’Briain and family.

Kay will be missed by her many friends from Windsor Gardens, lifelong friends from Boston, MA, those from Oranmore, Galway, many more in Brosna, Kerry, and all those who had the pleasure of knowing her.

A Funeral Mass will be held at 11.00am MT on Monday, October 18, 2021 at Horan & McConaty, 11150 E. Dartmouth Ave Aurora CO 80014. Live Streaming available through Horan & McConaty link below. Kay's Private Burial at Fort Logan National Cemetery Denver, CO at a date to be determined.

For those unable to attend the Memorial Mass, please visit the link here to access the livestream: https://event.forgetmenotceremonies.com/ceremony/?c=4851ac29-15ee-40f4-8fb0-19cac5303ab9

Kay's Journey

Born in the picturesque village of Brosna, Co. Kerry, in 1940, to David and Katie Horan, Kay (known to all at the time as "Kitty") attended Brosna National School, overlooking the river Clydagh, before graduating from Mountmellick Secondary School in Co. Laois. Kay was the middle of 3 children born to David and Katie. Her brother Tom passed away in 2009 while her sister Hannah May Greally (Horan), a retired secondary school teacher, lives with her husband Michael (a fine Galway man) in Co. Dublin.

Kay emigrated to the United States in the 1950’s spending time with family in San Francisco and Reno, before moving to Boston to reconnect with friends in a thriving and vibrant Irish Community. Friendships and relationships made then, remain as strong today, perhaps even more so. Shortly thereafter, she met and married John Nolan, from Corker, Kiltartan, Co. Galway. Introducing two children into the world in 1963 and 1964 respectively, Sharon and David became the cornerstones of their lives in Boston.

Kay was a friend, neighbor and mentor to many in Boston, before the longing of a return to Ireland proved too great. Settling in Galway, the next chapter in Kay's life took shape, enjoying a rewarding career in Accounting, with lengthy employment stints at Astor Berning Industries and J.J. Fleming Motors.

Residing in the village of Oranmore, Kay and John raised their family and lived their lives in a wonderful community. Kay was an enthusiastic participant in local civic groups and social circles. The Cloonarkin Drive Residents Association held many of its meetings in our Kitchen. Well attended Tupperware and jewelry parties were no strangers to our home and some infamous post Boston Arms /Keane's house parties, where the sounds of song, Céilí music and dancing filled the air, well into the early hours.

An avid arts and crafts enthusiast, she and daughter Sharon spent many days and evenings, patterns and material spread onto a table, pins in place, scissors and thread ready, sewing machine in-gear, making dresses and clothes for Sharon's dolls.

Not only was Kay skilled at arts and crafts, she was also no stranger to helping David with the meticulous building of model ships and airplanes. Her time was adoringly shared with equal enthusiasm -no stranger to Glynn's (toy shop) on Shop Street. Our mom, though busy with a heavy career work-load and the chores of daily life, always made the effort to set aside time to spend with us. She did so willingly and enthusiastically.

It was in the field of knitting and crochet that Kay was happiest, developing and mastering the passion of a pass-time craft into a thriving little business. If there were home decorating, painting or wall-papering projects to be done, the paintbrush and roller were no stranger to her. She simply loved to work, loved to be busy and did so with great abundant energy.

After a busy work-week and the chores of a Saturday complete, with my dad at the wheel and she as co-pilot, she loved for the four of us to hop in the car for a Sunday drive to destinations such as Clifden, Kylemore Abbey, Maam Cross, Cliffs of Moher, The Burren and especially to Doolin for a little traditional Irish music.

Having seen Sharon and David return to the United States in the 1980’s, John and Kay left Ireland once again, returned to the United States in the mid-1990's to be closer to their children and grand-children thus, beginning a new and flourishing chapter of their lives in Denver, Colorado.

Kay and John enjoyed traveling and spending many vacations in Boston, Cape Cod, cruising Alaska and most especially in Hawaii.

Kay was a wonderful daughter, sister, wife, mother, grand-mother, friend, and colleague to all she met and came into contact with. Our mother will be buried in Fort Logan National Cemetery, Colorado, to rest in peace at the foothills of the Rocky Mountains where she will be fondly remembered in our hearts and minds, Always and Forever!

We love you Mom!