Kathleen (Lennon) Arruda of Somerset, MA passed away peacefully on August 25, 2024 at Care One in New Bedford, MA at the age of 75 after a long illness.

Kathy was born on October 15, 1948 at Truesdale Hospital in Fall River, MA to Mary E. (Mitchell) Lennon (d. 2005) and John C. Lennon (d. 1975). She grew up in Somerset, MA.

Kathy had a special connection with her twin sister Maureen and lived on the same street with her for more than 70 years.

As children, they were athletic, trying out for every sport they could, developing a passion for basketball. They attended high school during the Beatles era and as such, shared a deep love of their music, and also loved Roy Orbison, Brenda Lee, The Beach Boys, and the Everly Brothers, among many others.

She attended public school and graduated from Somerset High School, later studying Psychology at Southeastern Massachusetts University (now U-Mass Dartmouth).

Kathy worked in customer service most of her life, notably at Friendly's Ice Cream as a waitress with her twin, at Stop & Shop in Somerset at the service desk (when her children were young), and later as a train attendant and crew base supervisor for Amtrak in Boston, MA. Above all, she loved people and their stories.

The only living things Kathy loved as much as (or perhaps more than) people were her dogs. Her love for them was unconditional. They went with her almost everywhere she would go and were treated as royalty. When she wasn't spoiling her dogs, she loved to read, garden, play cards, cook, and spend the occasional night at the casino.

Kathy is survived by her three children Dr. Timothy J. Arruda of Barnstable, MA, Kathryn A. Arruda of Key West, FL, and Joseph M. Arruda of New Bedford, MA, two daughters-in-law Nichole Pyy-Arruda and Jennifer Newman-Arruda, as well as three grandchildren, Gradon Arruda, Eliana Arruda, and Gabriel Arruda. She is also survived by two older brothers J. Michael Lennon of Bryn Mawr, PA and Peter K. Lennon of Chicago, IL, as well as her twin sister Maureen (Lennon) Macedo of Somerset, MA, along with their respective spouses Donna Pedro Lennon, Karen Lennon, and Michael F. Macedo. She is survived by five nephews: Stephen Lennon, Joseph Lennon, godson James Lennon, David Macedo, and Andrew Macedo, as well as seven great-nieces and nephews. Kathy gave up all she had for her family, children, and grandchildren. She remained a beloved mother, grandmother, aunt, cousin, and friend to many, until her last days.

The family held a private memorial for Kathy, as she did not wish to have a traditional wake or funeral service. Her cremated remains were spread in her sister's gardens in Somerset, MA                

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