Kathleen (Kathy) Ann Cass, 67, of Laconia, NH (formerly of Colebrook, NH) passed away peacefully in her daughter, Michelle’s, arms on August 1st, 2024, at Hospice House in Concord, NH, after a period of declining health. Though she fought gallantly to remain here with us, her body was simply too tired to carry on in this world.

Kathy was born March 21, 1957, in Catskill, NY, to Morris (Crippy) and Joyce (Houghtaling) Cass, the eldest of five children. Her early years were spent in Athens, NY before her parents moved the family to Woburn, MA. Because her father was chronically ill and her mother his main caregiver & sole breadwinner, Kathy took on the role of second mother very early on in life and never really relinquished it. She was a steadying force in her siblings’ lives as they were growing up and later into adulthood.

Kathy graduated in 1975 from Woburn High School, and immediately entered the workforce full time as a bank teller, a position she held during her senior year of school through their work-study program. In 1976 she married her ex-husband, Joseph Sallese, and later went on to welcome two beautiful children, Michelle and Joseph, into the world.

In August of 1983 Kathy and her children relocated to Colebrook, NH, where she would remain for the next 40 years. Over the next few years, she worked for guest services at the Balsams Grand Resort Hotel before finding a fulfilling career assisting adults with mental health and developmental disabilities at Vershire Center - Northern NH Human Services.

Throughout her life, she faced challenge, uncertainty, hardship and debilitating pain. Despite this she met everyone with courage, grace, humility, compassion, kindness, loyalty, and love. Kathy never missed a game during the high school years for her kids and could always be heard loudly cheering them on. She loved dancing, snowmobiling, jeep rides, reading and hosting parties where she could try out new recipes. She would play scrabble with anyone willing to join her. While she wasn’t usually competitive, scrabble was a different story - she played to win!

Kathy is survived by her two children, daughter Michelle (Sallese) Xiggoros of Manchester, NH and son Joseph Sallese & partner Katelyn Marr of Concord, NH; four beautiful granddaughters whom she adored, Kyla Melton (20) of Easton, MA, and Gianna (11), Alessandra (10), & Octavia (5) Sallese of Concord, NH; three sisters, Karen Rainville of Manchester, NH, Kelly Gonsalves of Woburn, MA, and Kristin Robinson of Washington, NH, and one brother, Kevin Cass of Derry, NH; an aunt Laverna Cass of Colebrook, NH; cousin and best friend Cindy Smith & her husband Jeff of Catskill, NY; cherished godson and nephew Scott McGondel & his wife Dawn of Manchester, NH; and several nieces, nephews, cousins and friends who will miss her dearly.

Waiting for her at heaven’s door were her parents, Crippy and Joyce Cass; her fur babies Sandy & Brandy; and her grand fur babies Super Mario Xiggoros and Patches Sallese.

We are profoundly grateful to the doctors, nurses, LNA’s, respiratory therapists, and techs from the 2nd & 4th floor of Concord Hospital – Laconia, as well as the nurse practitioners, nurses, & LNA’s at Hospice House in Concord for their kindness, compassion, and devotion to Kathy’s care & comfort in her final 2 months of life. We were skillfully and lovingly guided through the end-of-life challenges by the staff at both locations and for that we are eternally grateful.

A Celebration of Life will be held Saturday, August 17, 2024 at 2 PM at NH Audubon Society McLane Center, 84 Silk Farm Road, Concord, NH 03301. In honor of her final wishes, Kathy's ashes will be spread at a later date at her Aunt Laverna's property in Colebrook, NH, the place she felt most at home.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to any of the following:

Epilepsy Foundation of New England https://efne.epilepsynewengla… or Granite VNA Hospice House https://www.granitevna.org:

Lastly, for anyone that is interested in helping the family with the cost of the services, donations can be made to her daughter Michelle via Venmo (@josiex) or PayPal (@mjosies).

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