Kathleen M “Kate” (O’Brien) Hartig 67, of Norwood died peacefully Thursday, August 13, 2015 at the Golden Living Center in Norwood after a long struggle with Frontotemporal Degeneration.
She was the beloved wife of Francis E.” Frank” Hartig sharing 37 years of marriage.
A resident of Norwood for 34 years she was born in Boston and raised in Portland Maine the daughter of the late Walter and Laura (Manchester) O’Brien.
Kate had a lifelong passion for caring for those in need, involvement in the arts and theatre, and giving back to her community.
For over 25 years she worked in Volunteer Services. Kate was the founding Director of the Lahey Clinic Volunteer and Community Outreach Program, was the Director of Volunteer Services for Norwood Hospital Volunteer Association, and was the Director of Volunteer Services for Mercy Hospital in Portland, Maine. While working for the Portland Recreation Department she was a founder of the Portland Big Sister Program for young women in need of adult mentors.
She, with fellow parents, began the Back Stage Boosters' in Norwood to support youth theatre arts and was an avid member of the Choir at the First Congregational Church in Norwood.
Kate graduated from Portland High School, attended Northeastern University, and received her undergraduate degree in Social Work from Southern Maine University where she earned her Master’s Degree in Recreation.
Kate loved the outdoors, swimming, running, skiing and walking the beautiful beaches of her beloved Maine.
In addition to her husband she is survived by one son Christopher F. Hartig of Norwood, one daughter Gretchen K. (Hartig) Milliken and her husband Travis of Queens NY, two sisters Julia O’Brien Merrill of Brunswick, Maine, Amy O’Brien Brown of Harpswell, Maine, her close cousin's Rachel Allen of Naples Maine and Don Wojchowski of Cape Elizabeth Maine and many nieces and nephews.
At Kates request burial is private.
A Service to celebrate her Life will be held in the Chapel of John Everett & Sons Funeral Home, 4 Park Street, Natick Common on Saturday, November 28, 2015 at 12:00 Noon.
Expressions of sympathy may be made in Kate’s memory to A.F.T.D, (The Association for Frontotemporal Degeneration) Radnor Station, Building 2, Suite 320, 290 King of Prussia Road, Radnor, PA 19087