Obituary of Katherine Griffin

Katherine “Chickie” Griffin, 93, of Burlington, MA, passed away peacefully in her home with family at her side on September 21, 2023. 

She was born on September 17, 1930, to Charles and Mary Nutt in Lexington, Mass, earning her nickname from her mother as a toddler with skinny legs.  She had an older brother Joe and a younger brother Charles “Guy”, both of whom preceded her in death. After graduating from Lexington High School in 1948 she was employed by the John Hancock Company in Boston. 

She was married to James F. Griffin in 1954 and together they moved to Burlington in 1960 where they raised five boys and made their home for the rest of their lives. Returning to the workforce in the mid-1980s after many years as a homemaker, Chickie went by what she considered a “more professional” nickname of “Kay” and was a dedicated and well-liked administrative and HR assistant for more than twenty years at M/A-com and Insight Enterprises.  

Chickie enjoyed cooking and baking, antiquing (especially in Maine with her best friend Maryanne), gardening, and was an accomplished and generous knitter, known for her wearable handmade gifts to friends and family. She was easy to like and easy to talk to and laugh with and enjoyed nothing more than doing so over a good glass of red wine. She loved being at her house in Maine or in Aruba each January for 20+ years as a part of the “Griffin 6” – which included her husband and his three siblings, Catherine, Mary and Francis and his wife Elaine. 

She loved animals of all kinds, although loving and loyal dogs, chirping, colorful birds, and handsome horses were particular joys on any day. She lived with conviction by “The Golden Rule” and believed that God was watching down. But she did not judge and was a trusted confidante to many. She had spunk, fashion style and generosity of spirit, and, as her high school yearbook aptly characterized her back in 1948, she remained “happy-go-lucky” for the most of her days. 

Chickie is survived by five sons, Jim and wife Mary, of Milton, VT, Mark of Hampton, NH, Neil and partner Martin, of Burlington, and Manuel Antonio, Costa Rica, Terry of Lowell, and Barry and husband Pattarakorn “Peter” of Haverhill. She is also survived by her granddaughter Katie and great-granddaughter Marilynn of North Carolina and granddaughter Jennie and her husband David of New Jersey, as well as by her brother-in-law Francis, of Arlington, many nieces, nephews, their families, and her true-to-the finish fur babies, Vera (Coton de Tulear) and Mazie (Yorkie). 

Visiting Hours will be held on Friday, September 29, 4-8pm, at the Edward V. Sullivan Funeral Home, 43 Winn Street, Burlington. Her funeral mass will be held on Saturday, September 30 at 10am, St. Malachy’s Church, 99 Bedford St, Burlington. Services will conclude with burial at Chestnut Hill Cemetery, Burlington.

In lieu of flowers, a donation can be made to Animal Rescue League of Boston, www.arlboston.org.