Catherine Christina “Kate” Montgrain, 96, of Pacific Palisades, CA, peacefully passed away on February 15th, 2026 in Ojai, CA. Kate was born in Listowel, Ireland in County Kerry on December 23, 1929 to Ellen and Michael Barrett. She was one of six siblings. She left Ireland when she was 16 years old, emigrating first to England for three years, then to New York for seven years. She vacationed to California in October of 1956 where she met her husband Wilfred “Mike” Montgrain. She returned three months later, and they were married 56 years. She became a US Citizen on November 14, 1955. Kate and Mike bought their home in Pacific Palisades, CA in 1959, the year their first daughter Maureen was born. Kate lived there until the Palisades fire in 2025. Even after tragically losing her home, she would always say “we had 66 good years.”
Kate was a devoted mother to her children, Maureen (husband Jim) Mitchner, Eileen Piccirillo, Sean Montgrain, and Patrick Montgrain, and a loving grandmother to her six grandchildren, Neil Montgrain, Cali Hathaway, James Mitchner, Nicholas Piccirillo, Jack Mitchner, and Everest Montgrain. She is preceded in death by her husband, Mike.
She was a true original, who enjoyed fashion, thrift shopping, garage sales, travel, and Irish music. She adored her lifelong friends and neighbors. She will forever be remembered for her stories, generosity, kindness, hearty laugh, and collection of pig themed items.
In loving memory of Kate, we share one of her favorite Irish blessings - “May the road rise to meet you. May the wind be always at your back. May the sunshine warm your face, the rain fall soft upon your fields. And until we meet again, may God hold you in the palm of His hand.”
Funeral services will be held at Holy Cross Cemetery in Culver City, CA on Friday, February 27, 2026 at 12pm with Monsignor Kidney of Corpus Christi Church officiating. Arrangements are under the direction of Joseph P. Reardon Funeral Home & Cremation Service, Ventura.