Obituary of Kathryn M. Galante

Kathryn M. Galante

12/14/37-3/22/25

Kathryn M. Galante “Kitty”, 87, of Yardley, PA passed away on March 22, 2025, surrounded by her loving family.  Kitty was a loving wife, mother, sister, grandmother, aunt, friend and mentor to all who had the good fortune of being in her life who lived life with a quiet dignity and grace.

Kitty was born in Rutland, VT in 1937 and spent most of her early years in the western PA towns of Erie and Blairsville.  After graduating from Blairsville High School in 1955, Kitty attended Mt. Mercy College, in Pittsburgh, graduating with a BA in English in 1959, and then began a career teaching High School English in western PA, Ohio and New Jersey.  Kitty was married in 1966 to her husband, Dr. James Galante, and settled in Forty Fort, PA.  After a beautiful 14-year marriage and the birth of 4 children, Kitty was widowed at the age of 42, with the untimely passing of her husband.  Kitty spent the next several years raising her children, which she did selflessly, with love, not once putting her own needs before the needs of her children.  Kitty was also an active member of the Luzerne County Medical Auxiliary and worked for the Sisters of Mercy at Mercy Center in Dallas, PA, during these years.

Kitty moved back to Vermont to the town of Poultney in 1995 and spent the majority of the second half of her life as a respected and influential member of the Poultney Community.  Kitty opened the Poultney Inn in the “heart of the village” in 2000 and served as its beloved sole proprietor for many years.  Visitors to the Inn were greeted with Kitty’s warmth, quiet humility and sincerity, in addition to a world class breakfast and homemade muffins, which Kitty would bake from scratch each morning.  In addition to life at the Inn, Kitty founded the Poultney Shakespeare Troupe which hosted a yearly Shakespeare Festival bringing visitors from around the New England states to the small town of Poultney each summer.   Kitty also served as a member of the Poultney Chamber of Commerce.  Most importantly, Kitty loved the beauty and simplicity of Southern VT, especially Lake St. Katherine, throughout her life. 

Kitty was an avid sports fan, who loved the Pirates and Steelers, and still got excited in later years recalling the day the Pirates Bill Mazeroski hit the walk off homerun to beat the Yankees in Game 7 of the 1960 World Series.  Kitty also loved horse racing with the Kentucky Derby serving as a yearly highlight which reminded her of her days as a teenager working at the Gideon Putnam Hotel in Saratoga NY and daily visits to Saratoga Racetrack.  Despite her allegiance to the Pirates, Kitty became a Phillies fan in later years and spent the past several seasons watching and rooting for them with her grandchildren.

A lifelong Democrat, Kitty got a twinkle in her eye talking about “Vermonter”, Bernie Sanders, and his mittens, taking on Washington’s establishment.  Kitty was a daily reader of the New York Times and especially looked forward to the Sunday Times’ Food section.  An excellent cook, Kitty would clip and save recipes from the Times for future meals and was known for the ability to seemingly take the minimal offerings found in the refrigerator and cupboard and magically turn this into a wonderful meal for all to enjoy.

Kitty loved her grandchildren and spent special time in the last years of her life with each of them, all of whom will remember “Grandma” as a warm and caring friend, who was able to impart life’s lessons and advice with a smile, assuring them that things would be ok, and that sometimes “you just need to buck up and go to work”.

Kitty is survived by her children, James (Marianne), John (Megan), Paul (Jennifer) and Caroline (James), her brother Joseph Masterson, sister-in-law Gloria Galante, grandchildren, Sarah, Macy, Emmy, Sophia, Jamie, Erin, Jospeh, Catherine, and Hugh, as well as her nephews Michael Masterson, and JD Taylor, and nieces Michelle Masterson and Katie Taylor.

 Kitty was predeceased by her husband, Dr. James Galante and her parents Joseph and Katherine Masterson (nee McShane), sister, Mary Taylor (nee Masterson), sister-in-law Wava Masterson (nee Huggins) and brother-in-law, James Taylor.

 A viewing will be held on Friday, April 4 from 9:00 AM to 10:00 AM at St. Ignatius RC Church 339 N. Maple Avenue Kingston, PA 18704 followed by a Mass.  Arrangements are under the care of the FitzGerald-Sommer Funeral Home 17 S. Delaware Avenue Yardley, PA 19067.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Sisters of Mercy Support the Sisters of Mercy in a Meaningful Way! - Sisters of Mercy