Obituary of Kathleen Cook

Kathleen “Kathy” Ellen Gulde Cook founder of Gulde- Cook Insurance Agency and Co-owner of K & R Tree and Landscape Company, passed away at the Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston after a long battle with cancer on Wednesday morning, December 1, 2010. She was 56 years old. Kathy was born in Woburn. She was a lifelong resident of Burlington. She was a 1972 Graduate of Burlington High School and a graduate of Merrimack College, where she received her Degree in Sociology. Kathy had a strong work ethic and a sincere concern for others. She learned the insurance business working with her father at Gulde Insurance Company. She then started her own business called Gulde –Cook Insurance Company. Kathy had a large number of clients whom she served with great warmth, respect, and kindness. She also co-owned K & R Tree and Landscape Company with her husband, Roger Cook. Kathy’s free time was spent with her family and friends. She was a devoted wife of 31 years to her husband Roger. She was a loving and supportive mother to her children; Jason and Molly. Kathy supported them in their interests and academics. She was extremely proud of all their accomplishments. Kathy enjoyed vacationing at her home in Falmouth. Her ideal day would be spent at the beach with her family sharing stories or just reading a book or magazine. It was those simple pleasures that made her the happiest. Kathy was the beloved wife of Roger Cook. She was the loving mother of Jason and Molly Cook both of Burlington. She was the daughter of John “Jack” and Kay Gulde of Burlington. She the sister of John “Jack” Gulde Jr. & his wife Kathy of Chelmsford, Cheryl Hansen & her husband Robert of N. Andover, Carol Cammon & her husband Fred of Winchester, and Mary Biagiotti & her husband Richard of Burlington. She was the sister-in-law of Greg and Jill Cook of CA. Funeral from the Edward V. Sullivan Funeral Home, 43 Winn Street, BURLINGTON (exit 34 off Rt. 128, Woburn side) on Saturday, Dec. 4 at 9 a.m. Followed by a Mass of Christian Burial in St. Margaret’s Church at 10 a.m. Visiting hours Friday 4-8 p.m. Interment in Pine Haven Cemetery, Burlington. In lieu of Flowers, memorials in Kathy’s name may be made to Massachusetts General Hospital Development Office, 165 Cambridge Street, Boston, MA 02114, Attention Lawrence Blaszkowsky, MD Gastrointestinal Cancer Research Fund. Memories Like most women today Kathy wore many hats throughout her life. She was a devoted daughter, a sister to four siblings, a cherished friend, a loving and faithful wife and a woman who embraced motherhood with love and determination to provide the best for her children. As a child Kathy was content to play by herself in the sandbox. We loved our Barbie dolls and riding bikes. I remember the May Day celebration when Kathy was crowned the Queen of the May and she wore a frilly white dress and gold crown and we danced around the May Pole. Climbing trees, scabby knees and mosquito bites on Kathy's legs are memories that linger. . Later, when our family grew, our summer vacations to Hampton Beach gave us something to look forward to as school ended and summer began. Packing a car with everything, and I mean everything a family needs to go on vacation for two weeks was certainly a challenge for my mother, not really a vacation. Listening to my Dad sing his old songs while walking uptown on the boardwalk we could not wait to play skee-ball, eat ice cream and fudge and watch the Wednesday night fireworks on the beach. When we were older the Casino dances was the place to meet boys and exchange addresses and phone numbers; oh those summer romances. Our families love for the beach blossomed here and still remains. These are the memories that linger. . The teen years came fast. We would listen to our 45 records in our room, borrow each others clothes, fight for the bathroom, and talk on the phone. Growing up meant jeans, long hair, Drivers Ed., High School football games and Saturday night dances, boyfriends, girlfriends and hormonal imbalances. . During college Kathy started seeing Roger and would become his beloved wife after many years of dating. She also began working with our Dad in Gulde Insurance, becoming fulltime after college. Kathy was a highly respected business woman and clients always felt confident in their dealings with her. . Kathy was a loving and devoted mother. She had many roles but being a wife and mother were the two most important. Family time meant everything to her. She was the fierce mother bear watching out for her cubs! . My sister will be missed by so many people. I found a quote about death that I believe Kathy would like us to read and think about when we are sad and missing her. I hope it gives you comfort too. . “Death is nothing at all- I have only slipped away into the next room. I am I, and you are you. Whatever we were to each other, that we still are. Call me by my old familiar name, speak to me in the easy way you always used. Wear no forced air of solemnity or sorrow. . Laugh as we always laughed at the little jokes we enjoyed. Play, smile, think of me, pray for me. Let my name be ever the household word that it always was. Let it be spoken without the ghost of a shadow on it. Life means all that it ever meant... There is absolutely unbroken continuity. . What is death but a negligible accident? Why should I be out of mind because I am out of sight? I am waiting for you-for an interval-somewhere near just around the corner. . All is well.” . Kathy, we all love you, and miss you. You will always be in our hearts. .