Katharine Rose Courtney

Katharine Rose Courtney, 94, was born on February 19, 1931, in Cincinnati, Ohio. She peacefully departed this life on June 2, 2025, in West Brookfield, Massachusetts, at Quaboag on the Common with her daughter by her side.

A devoted mother and grandmother, Kathy is survived by her daughter, Sandra A. Courtney, and her husband, Kevin Wherry, of Monson, MA. She also leaves behind four beloved grandchildren: Geoffrey Courtney and his wife Ashley, as well as Ian and Tyler Courtney, and Drew Wherry. Katharine was predeceased by her parents, Ernst C. and Rose L. (Bender) Braun, her husband of 68 years, John O. Courtney, her son, Steven J. Courtney, her brother, Ernst Braun, and her grandson, Ryan Wherry.

Throughout her life, Kathy exhibited a profound love for reading and a particular fondness for Westerns. Together with her husband, she embraced traveling in retirement, becoming active members of a travel club during their years in Ocala, Florida and going on numerous cruises. Their inseparable bond was a hallmark of their relationship, beautifully epitomized by their shared life experiences.

In 2014, following the passing of her beloved husband, Kathy relocated to Monson, Massachusetts, to be closer to her daughter. In 2021, she moved to Christopher Heights in Belchertown.

The family would like to thank the companions and staff at Christopher Heights for making Kathy feel at home, and give special thanks to the nurses and aides in the memory wing of Quaboag on the Common for their exceptional compassion and care in Kathy’s final days. 

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in her memory to the Rowan Tree Foundation (rowantreefoundation.org), a charitable organization dedicated to supporting grieving families coping with the loss of a child.

All services for Katharine will be private. Her family takes comfort in knowing that she is reunited with her loved ones who have departed before her, and they will forever hold her memory in their hearts.