Kathleen A. "Kathy" Southwood

Kathleen (Reid) Southwood passed away peacefully at home surrounded by her family on Monday December 20, 2021.

Kathy was born in Boston Massachusetts on August 18, 1941 the daughter of the late Kenneth and Kathleen (Fleming) Reid. She was raised in Canton where she graduated from Canton High School in the Class of 1958. On graduating from high school, Kathy went to work as a Secretary for the MBTA in Boston. She met her husband Lawrence E. Southwood on the 5:15pm train out of South Station in 1959 on her way home from her job at the MBTA and he on his way home from his job at New England Telephone. They were married on October 12, 1961 at Saint John’s Church in Canton.

Following their marriage, they resided in Readville to be closer to Boston and their jobs. As their children came along, they moved to an apartment on East Hoyle Street in Norwood to be closer to their families. In 1967, Kathy and her husband moved the family to their current home on MacDonald Circle in Walpole where they have lived for the last 54 years. They couldn’t have selected a nicer or friendlier neighborhood!

Kathy always enjoyed working and interacting with people, so, in 1978 with her four children in school, she decided to go back to school and trained as a hairdresser so she had flexibility to continue to attend their activities. She began working at the Head Shed in Walpole Center. She eventually realized she missed the office environment and accepted a secretary position with Microwave Development Labs in Needham Mass. On Saturdays, she continued to work at the Head Shed for many years as it allowed her stay active locally. In 1991, with the kids all grown up, she found another part time job as a secretary to Attorney Eugene A. Reilly in Walpole. Kathy had many other interests and was an avid reader, always having a book in hand.

During the summers, when the kids were young, Kathy and her family spent vacations on the Cape renting cottages in Chatham, Dennis Port and Harwich where her parents had lived upon retiring. As the kids grew up Kathy and her husband would take them on outdoor camping & hiking trips to the many rivers and lakes in Maine. She and her husband both enjoyed the atmosphere and the people of Maine so much that they and their four children built a log home on Long Lake in Harrison Maine in the late Fall and Winter of 1986 to1987. Prior to Kathy’s Diagnosis of Late- Stage Alzheimer in November 2019, she and her husband would spend all of their weekends and vacations at their home in Maine. Their most precious time was sitting down at the dock together on lake watching the sunset every evening.

Beloved Wife of Lawrence E. Southwood. Loving Mother of Kevin M. Southwood and his wife Susan of Clinton Connecticut, Lee E. Southwood of Walpole, Sheila M. Cicco of Walpole, and Kenneth D. Southwood of Walpole. Loving sister of the late Kenneth P. Reid of Warren Pa. Cherished Grandmother of Alyssa Cicco of Walpole, Thomas & Henry Southwood of Clinton Ct. and Isabella & Benjamin Southwood of Mansfield.

Relatives and friends are kindly invited to attend Kathy’s Life Celebration on Wednesday, December 29, 2021 from 4 to 7 PM in the James H. Delaney & Son Funeral Home, 48 Common Street, Walpole.

Kathy’s funeral service will take place privately, with interment taking place in Saint Francis Cemetery in Walpole.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association, 309 Waverley Oaks Road, Waltham, MA 02452.