Katherine (Kay) Walsh's  life of service to others came to a close on October 22 after a 6-year struggle with Alzheimer's Disease. Before and even more important than any accomplishments listed here, Kay was, for many, the person who they would call to help them through the difficult process of dying. She helped many people and their families through this transition. She dedicated her life to geriatrics and created a protocol for treating patients with Alzheimer's. In full circle, she spent her final days in the care of some of the special nurses and doctors with whom she worked at the Lafayette Skilled Nursing facility in Marblehead.

Kay was born in Webster, MA to the late Irving and Frances Russell. She grew up and attended school in Marblehead and graduated  from the Salem Hospital School of Nursing (1963). She started her Nursing career at Salem hospital, where she became, very likely , the youngest head nurse in the hospital's history.

Kay achieved a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree at Salem State University, a Master's degree in Education at Cambridge College and a Master's Degree in Nursing at the University of Massachusetts, Lowell, with an emphasis on geriatrics and shortly thereafter became a licensed Nurse Practitioner with a specialty in geriatrics.

Kay began her Nursing career at Salem Hospital, where she is believed to have been the youngest Head Nurse in the hospital's records. She also worked at Amesbury hospital when her daughters were infants. She taught a Nurse Assistant course at Salem High School for several years. The course had a 100% employment rate among its graduates, of whom she was immensely proud.

Kay's most rewarding professional NP positions were as the  Director of Nursing at the South Cove Manor long-term care facility where she was instrumental in the founding of the Chinese-American Nurses Association and at Beacon Medical Practice, where she worked with Dr. Lew Hays and his wonderful staff.

Kay served as a member and Chair of several boards, including the Lynn Community Health  Center and North Shore Elder Services. An internship bearing her name was created at the Salem Community Life Center several years ago. Kay's last full measure of devotion was her donation of her brain to Alzheimer's research.

Kay leaves her husband, Brendan, daughters Meghan Walsh and Kerry Corcoran, Son-in-Law Richard Corcoran and Grandsons Sam & Miles Corcoran. She also leaves her sister Joanne Brennan and her husband Donald,  the extended Brennan family, plus many nieces and nephews on the Walsh side of her family.

Kay's family is eternally indebted to the staff at the Lafayette for their gentle kindness and to her physician/friend/colleague Dr. Lew Hays for his understanding of her wishes.  Kay's passing comes at the end of the long dark road of Alzheimer's Disease, which robbed her of her memory, but her family and friends will remember Kay until the 12th of Never, and that's a long, long time.

Visitation will take place at the Murphy Funeral Home on North Street in Salem on Saturday, November 2, from 10 AM until 1 PM.  Interment will be private. In lieu of flowers please direct contributions in Kay's memory to the Alzheimer's Association, "Kay's Krew"(act.alz.org/goto/KaysKrew  ) or mail to Alzheimer's Association, c/o Kay's Krew, 320 Nevada St. Suite 201, Newton, MA 02460.