Kathleen Hoey

Kathleen (Moran) Hoey was a gentle, calm, loving woman with a smile that always reminded us that ‘it’s better to laugh than cry.’ She passed away peacefully at age 93 on December 28^th, 2022 in Florida. Kathleen was born on August 8^th, 1929 in Westport, County Mayo, Ireland, and was raised there until the age of 18. She then immigrated to the USA by plane and landed at Midway Airport in Chicago on March 25^th, 1948 with a green jacket, a small suitcase, and permed red hair.

Kathleen is survived by her son, Robert; her six grandchildren, Brittany, Kelsey, Sean, Toni, Shannon, and Sai; her sister, Harriett; cousins, nieces, and nephews locally and abroad in Ireland and Australia. Kathleen was preceded in death by her husband, Thomas Sr., her two sons, Brendan and Tom Jr., and her siblings, Barbara, Cecilia, and Tim.

Kathleen’s first job after coming to the US was at Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul and Pacific Railroad, where she worked for 5 years. Kathleen later worked with her husband Tom’s real estate development business, and then the State of Alaska for 14 years.

Kathleen and Thomas were married for 59 years, and were 3 weeks away from their 60^th wedding anniversary when Thomas passed away in 2014. Kathleen and Thomas met in Chicago, IL at a dancehall, married soon after, and started a family of three boys. Kathleen and Thomas became residents of Inverness, FL in 1998. Kathleen was an active member of the Irish Club and Citrus Hills Women’s Club. She was also a member of Our Lady of Fatima Catholic Church. It was always a treat to hear Kathleen say the Lord’s Prayer in Gaelic at the dinner table.

Kathleen loved sharing stories about her time growing up in Ireland, working at the railroad, raising her three boys in Illinois, and her time in Alaska. She appreciated the simple things in life – she loved a good shrimp dish, always found a way to eat that slice of apple pie with ice cream, and never went a day without reading the newspaper.

A Visitation will be held on Tuesday, January 10, 2023, at Heinz Funeral Home in Inverness from 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM with a Prayer Service at 6:30 PM.  A Funeral Mass will be held at 10:00 AM, on Wednesday, January 11, 2023, at Our Lady of Fatima Catholic Church in Inverness.  Mrs. Hoey will join her husband at Florida National Cemetery, at a later date.