Kathryn Kitty Bourke

Kathryn "Kitty" Christine Reilly Bourke, 73, a respected and loved resident of Greenwood Lake, NY, travelled to meet the Lord on January 4, 2021 after a 10-year battle with Alzheimer's disease. She was born in Brooklyn, NY, the second child and first daughter of James Robert "Bob" Reilly and Mary McWilliams Reilly Horan. She was the loving wife of Edmund R. Bourke, and the mother of five children. Kitty, a trained legal secretary, moved with the Reilly family to Kingston, NY in 1968. She was the secretary for the Ulster County District Attorney until her marriage to Edmund on July 25, 1970. Moving back to Brooklyn after the wedding, she worked in the Theatrical Department for the law firm of Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP, in New York City. In 1974, in anticipation of the birth of her first daughter Kristen, she and Edmund moved to Greenwood Lake, NY. Over the next eight years, Kitty and Edmund expanded the family, welcoming Allison, Deirdre, Sarah, and Eamonn. With children now in school, Kitty joined the Greenwood Lake Parent Teacher Association and became involved with the Greenwood Lake Gaelic Cultural Society's Soccer team, coaching and volunteering at soccer tournaments for many years. She rejoined the work force in 1988 as a teacher's aide at Orange County BOCES. In 1991, Edmund's job transferred the family overseas to the United States Embassy in Paris, France. Over the next six years, Kitty became the President of the Paris Embassy Group, and worked as a secretary for the United States Secret Service. She later worked on the embassy staff of the late Ambassador Pamela Harriman as the Community Liaison Officer. Kitty and family returned to the United States in 1997, landing in the Washington, D.C. area where she joined the Family Liaison Office of the U.S. Department of State. Kitty retired in June 2002 and returned with Edmund to their home in Greenwood Lake, NY. Kitty will be remembered for her sense of adventure, love for travel and her many culinary delights, including her spaghetti sauce, chicken cutlets, eggplant parmesan, and carrot cake. She loved to entertain and host family and friends. She is survived by her husband Edmund, her daughters Kristen (Greg) Garman of Annandale, VA, Allison Feasel (James) of West Olive, MI, Deirdre Bourke of Queens, NY, and Sarah (Sean) O'Connell of Monroe, NY, as well as son Eamonn (Emily) of Alexandria, VA. She was the grandmother of nine grandchildren. She will be missed by her brother and sisters, Richard (Linda) Reilly of Kingston, NY, Barbara (Bill) Boss of Greenwood Lake, NY and Peggy (Buddy) Wolf of Kingston, NY. She leaves behind many nieces and nephews and friends around the world. Kitty was predeceased by her parents and brother James Reilly. The family would like to thank the nurses and staff of Hospice of Orange and Sullivan Counties who provided Kitty with outstanding nursing care and comforting support over the last four months at home. A special thank you to Dakota, Brittney, Tiffany, Stephanie, Kristen, Nazily and Sister Ann who made Kitty comfortable until the end. All arrangements will be handled by Flynn Funeral & Cremation Memorial Centers, Inc. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, there will be no viewing. Interment will be at the Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Goshen, NY. In lieu of flowers, donations in Kitty's name can be made to the Warwick Valley Humane Society, as well as Mt. Alverno Day Care Program via St. Anthony's Community Hospital, both in Warwick, NY.