Sister Louise & Mrs. Laverly,
Bishop Moore High School 1979

Kathleen Marie Lavery, age 62, died peacefully at home on October 30th, 2005.

Kathy, the daughter of Martin T. McMinn and Teresa W. McLaughlin McMinn (both deceased), was born on June 6, 1943, in Penn Yan, New York...she graduated from Nazareth College in Rochester, New York...with a degree in Music Education and a minor in Theology, and her teaching career spanned a period of forty years.

At age 24, she moved to the Orlando area and began teaching at Bishop Moore Catholic High School for the Diocese of Orlando...initially hired as a music teacher...she subsequently transferred to the Theology Department and remained in that position for the entirety of her teaching career.

Kathy founded Bishop Moore's SPIRIT Drive, a year-round outreach program that served impoverished families...and community organizations such as BETA House...and Spouse Abuse. With her leadership, students counted, sorted, packed, and delivered their solicited donations of money, food, toys and clothing. She taught unquestioned generosity...and her students learned the meaning of true service.

Under her auspices, the SPIRIT Drive received several community service awards...notably The Disney Community Service Award-Accomplishments by Youth Category...and The Robert R. McCormick Tribune Foundation Award (Orlando Sentinel).

Kathy was instrumental in helping establish a spiritually enriching retreat program for the students...the program provided the students, faculty, and staff with memorable experiences of joyful camaraderie and renewed awareness of God's presence in everyday activities...original skits and songs created by the students added to the fun and laughter of the retreat adventures.

Kathy had a great affection for animals...and often provided a caring home for stray dogs and cats...she had a great love for music, and generously shared her gift with family, students, friends and colleagues during school Masses, weddings and other community gatherings.

Kathy bequeathed to all who knew her this definition of love: "Love is a unifying response between two people who have said "yes" to each other's total being..it presumes mutual acceptance of each other, freedom and trust, and it seeks the happiness and fulfillment of each other as a common goal"...let us "Whistle a Happy Tune" to celebrate her beautiful life!

Kathy is survived by her daughter, Beatrice Lorenz (Chris) Walsh, Maitland...grandson, Adam Christopher Walsh, Maitland...her sister, Phyllis Whitaker, Bath, New York, and sister-in-law, Kenda Lavery, Orlando...nephews David and William Lavery, Orlando...and nieces, Patricia Whitaker, Corning, New York, Pegeen Freidrichs, Raleigh, North Carolina; grandnephew, Jack Alexander Lavery, grandniece, Courtney Anne Lavery.

In lieu of flowers, Kathy requested that donations be made to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105...visitation was at St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church on Edgewater Dr., Orlando, Thursday Nov. 3rd from 5:30pm...with a wake service at 7pm, and a Mass of the Resurrection was celebrated on Friday, Nov. 4th at 12 Noon.

Arrangements were handled by CAREY HAND COX-PARKER FUNERAL HOME, 1350 W. Fairbanks Ave., Winter Park, FL (407) 647-1942.