Hingham – Katharine Honora (Comerford) Gunning, 86, of Hingham, formerly of Harwich and Southborough, died Thursday, Jan. 30, 2014, surrounded by her family.? She was the beloved wife of the late James Fiske Gunning, who passed away in 2002.
Katharine was raised in Worcester, Baltimore, and Brighton. She earned her Bachelor's degree from Boston Teacher's College and a Master's in education from Boston College. Passionate about education, she started her career as an elementary school teacher in Brighton, and continued as a teacher and reading tutor in Boston and Southborough.
As a dedicated mother she was committed to the lives of her children. She served as a Girl Scout troop leader, was an administrator and umpire of the Southborough Jewel Softball League, and attended all of her children's activities.
Through the years, she participated actively in the Southborough Catholic Women's Club, where she served as both vice president and president and was named Catholic Woman of the Year.
Kay was an active member of St. Anne Church in Southborough, where she was an Eucharistic minister, teacher of Christian education, and member of the parish council. While living in Hingham, she was head of the Linden Ponds Catholic Organization. She was also a member of the Southborough Garden Club, Gourmet Club, and Bridge Club. In addition she was a member of Framingham Country Club, where she was an avid tennis player and golfer. She was a versatile, talented athlete capable of shooting the lowest golf score on any given day.
Kay was known for her love of the daily crossword puzzle, word games like Boggle, Scrabble, and Jeopardy. She was a voracious reader and also enjoyed knitting and painting. However, she will be most remembered as a devoted mother.
She leaves her children James A. Gunning and his wife, Trudy, of North Grafton; Stephen Gunning of Southborough; Kevin T. Gunning and his wife, Nancy, of Southbury, Conn.; John B. Gunning and his wife, Patricia, of Westborough; Paul J. Gunning and his wife, Jeanne, of Holden; Katie MacArthur and her husband, Paul, of Southborough; Anne-Margaret Gunning and her partner, Tamara Schurdak, of New York City, as well as eight grandchildren, Elizabeth MacArthur, Meghan, Colleen, and Joseph Gunning, Grace, Jacob, and? Kyle Gunning, and Sarah Gunning; her siblings, Annellen Walsh of Cohasset, Marylou Murphy and Jane Comerford of Washington, and Anthony Comerford of New Jersey; and many nieces and nephews.
Visiting hours will be held Monday, Feb. 3, from 3:30 – 7 p.m., at the Morris Funeral Home, 40 Main St. (Route 30), Southborough. A Mass of resurrection will be held Tuesday, Feb. 4, at 11 a.m., at St. Anne Church, 20 Boston Rd., Southborough. Burial will follow in the Southborough Rural Cemetery.
Memorial contributions may be sent in her memory to the Friends of the Southborough Library, 25 Main St., Southborough, MA 01772.
To send words of condolence to the family, please visit www.morrisfuneralparlor.com.
