Kathleen Marie (O'Rourke) Sherry

Kathleen Marie O’Rourke Sherry, 92, died May 17 peacefully at the Masconomet Healthcare Center in Topsfield with family at her bedside. She was born to Daniel and Catherine O’Rourke on December 29, 1920. Kathleen “Kay” was valedictorian of Danvers High School Class of 1938 and received a B.A. in Romance Languages from Mount Holyoke College in 1942. She married the late Joseph Sherry in 1944. Kay received her Master’s Degree in Education from Salem State in 1971 and worked as a guidance counselor in Danvers public schools until her retirement in 1982. She was an avid reader and was renowned for her baking skills. She loved the beach and spent many hours at West Beach in Beverly Farms in all four seasons. A welcoming hostess, Kay loved to entertain family and friends and was especially fond of babies of all ages. She attended Saint Mary of the Annunciation Catholic Church in Danvers throughout her lifetime, where she was baptized, married and where several of her children were married. She is survived by her six children: Jay Sherry of Danvers and his wife Linda, Peter Sherry of Beverly, Christine Biscardi of Newburyport and her husband Paul, Adrianne Sherry of Stratham, NH, Sara Sherry of Southampton, MA and her husband Paul Dempsey and Maria Murphy of Manassas, VA and her husband Tom. She is also survived by her grandchildren: Kevin Kinsella, Christopher Sherry, Erin Sherry Prim, Brian Sherry, Liam Dempsey, Robin Sherry Fernald, Patrick Dempsey, Benjamin Sherry, Emma Murphy, and Declan Murphy and four great grandchildren. Her Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 11AM on Saturday, June 15, 2013 in St. Mary of the Annunciation Church, Conant St., Danvers. Burial will follow in Annunciation Cemetery, Danvers. There are no visiting hours. In lieu of flowers, a donation may be made in Kathleen’s name to the George Peabody Society, c/o The Peabody Institute Library, 15 Sylvan St., Danvers, MA, 01923.