Kathleen A. (Mahoney) Claffey, age 90, of Salem passed away Thursday, December 14, 2017, surrounded by her loving family. A lifelong resident of Salem, Mrs. Claffey graduated from Salem High School (class of 1944) and the State Teachers College at Salem (class of 1948). She taught in the Gloucester School Department (1948 - 1950) and in the Salem School Department from 1964 until her retirement in 1985, where she also had served as a reading specialist.

Kathleen was happiest spending time with her family, reading novels, tackling crossword puzzles, playing cribbage and dominoes, and birdwatching. She loved chop suey sandwiches from the Salem Willows and kept a ready supply of chocolate. She gamely tolerated her family's love of travel, enjoying many happy summers at White Lake State Park in NH and over 20 winters at Traveler's Rest RV Resort in Dade City, Florida.

Kathleen was predeceased by her husband, William A. Claffey, with whom she shared 54 years of marriage. She is survived by her children, William H. Claffey and his wife, Janet, of Newburyport, Karen A. Shostak and her husband, Seth, of Mountain View, California, and Ann dePierro and her husband, Michael, of Brighton as well as her four grandchildren, Sharyn Morin, KateLyn Smith, John dePierro, and Kathleen dePierro, and her four great grandchildren, Henry and Vera Morin, Theo Smith, and Ava Fuhrer.