Obituary of Katherine Kay'' McLean

Katherine ''Kay'' (Doherty) McLean, passed way unexpectedly at her home on Sunday afternoon, June 17, 2018. The beloved wife of the late Harvey L. McLean, she was 94 years old. Kay was born, raised and educated in Charlestown. She was proud to be a “Townie” from Charlestown. If you lived in Charlestown you considered it to be the best neighborhood in Boston full of history and tradition and how bittersweet that Kay passed on Bunker Hill Day. Kay was also a longtime member of the Charlestown Schoolgirl’s Association, an alumni organization for woman who grew up in Charlestown. She graduated from Girls High School in 1941. Kay worked at John Hancock until her marriage to Harvey. They married on May 17, 1964. They lived in Dorchester and West Medford before settling in Burlington in 1972 where they would raise their two sons and become part of the community of Burlington. Kay and Harvey loved ballroom dancing. It was while at a dance that they first met. They danced at Wonderland Ballroom in Boston, Moseley’s on the Charles and the Surf Ballroom at Nantasket Beach in Hull. Kay and Harvey enjoyed dancing together well into their 80’s. She was a member of the Billerica Irish American Club and loved going to their Irish Festivals every year. Kay was a hands on mom. Her number one goal was to love, support and be there for her sons. She would do anything for her “boys”. Summers were spent at their cottage and on the beaches in Plymouth. She volunteered at their school as a lunch monitor and was there for any activity they were involved in. She was very proud to see her sons Charlie and David become responsible adults and their involvement in the community of Burlington. After her sons were grown Kay went back to work part-time at Ernie’s Catering. Kay and Harvey travelled the world. They visited Ireland, England, France, Switzerland, Bermuda, Hawaii, California, Nova Scotia and Cape Cod. Just last year she had taken a memorable trip with her son Charlie to see “Ground Zero” in New York City. Kay was a longtime and involved member of St. Malachy’s Church in Burlington. She made Eucharistic bread for the Mass, cooked for the Lowell Shelter and volunteered for the many bazaars. Kay will be remembered for living her life with fun and laughter and for her love and devotion to her husband Harvey and her two sons Charlie and David. Kay was the beloved wife of the late Harvey. Loving mother of Charles J. McLean of Burlington and Sgt. David H. McLean of Dracut. Sister of Elaine Bradley of Foxboro formerly of Winchester and the late Walter E. Doherty, Daniel “Sonny” Doherty and Walter “Skippy” Burke. Kay is also survived by many cousins, nieces and nephews. Funeral from the Edward V Sullivan Funeral Home, 43 Winn St., BURLINGTON (Exit 34 off Rt. 128/95 Woburn side) on Thursday, June 21 at 9 a.m. Followed by a Mass of Christian Burial in St. Malachy Church, 99 Bedford St. Burlington at 10 a.m. Visiting hours Wednesday 4-8 p.m. Interment in Chestnut Hill Cemetery, Burlington. Memorials in Kay’s name may be made to St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105-1942