Kathleen 'Kathy' Brehm Died After Battle With Cancer

Obituary courtesy of Norton Funeral Home:

Kathleen "Kathy" Brehm of Framingham died on April 4, 2014, after a long and courageous battle with endometrial cancer. She was at home surrounded by her loving family.

The world has lost a wonderful woman, and her presence will be sorely missed by her family and her many, many friends. She was kind, generous, quick-witted, and made life fun for everyone around her. She enriched the lives of everyone who knew her. She fought her illness fiercely to gain more time with her family, never complained, and always had a smile on her face. Her passions were spending time with her family and many adored pets over the years, as well as traveling, attending broadway shows, playing games on her Ipad, and gardening. She went on to become a Master Gardener with the Massachusetts Horticultural Society, where she met many close friends.

Kathy was born in Grand Island, NY, daughter to the late Ernest and Kathryn Zavodny. She was the valedictorian of Grand Island Senior High School and then attended the University of Buffalo.

She is survived by her devoted husband of 41 years, Robert William Brehm of Framingham; daughter Kelly Elizabeth Brehm of Dallas, TX; daughter Kristen Brehm Walton and son-in-law Bret Allen Walton, whom she loved as a son; granddaughters Kathryn Elise Walton and Claire Avery Walton; her sisters-in-law Marilyn Ayrault and her husband Joe of Orchard Park, NY, Betty Brehm Perry and her husband Jeff of New York, NY and Kitty Elias of Washington, DC; and a host of close Aunts, Uncle, nieces, nephews and cousins.

She and her family will be forever grateful for the outpouring of support and affection for her over the last four and a half years. Her family especially wants to thank her medical team at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, her friends at the Dana Farber cancer suppport group, and her exceptional hospice nurse Esther.

A memorial service will be held at a later date to celebrate her life at Christ the King Catholic Church in Cape Cod, a place that Kathy held dear. Arrangements are under the care of the Norton Funeral Home, Framingham.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in memory of Kathy Brehm to support cancer research at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, P.O. Box 849168, Boston, 02284 or via www.dana-farber.org/gift.

Donations can also be made in Kathy's name at ASPCA.org.