On January 31st 2023, Catherine “Kitty” (nee Baldwin) Boyle reunited with her beloved husband Phil in Heaven. After 70 years of marriage, she couldn't live without him and died of a “broken heart” after losing him two months ago. Theirs was a true love story - may she rest in peace now knowing they are together.
Kitty was born in Kinsale, Ireland on August 20, 1925, to Daniel Baldwin and Annie (nee Quinn) Baldwin. Besides her husband Phil, she was predeceased by her daughter Mary; her sister Anne (nee Baldwin) Quinn; and her brother John Baldwin.
Kitty was mother to Timothy & Joanne Boyle of Louisville, KY; Brendan & Claudia Boyle of Bronxville, NY; Cathy Boyle of Tuckahoe, NY; and Phil & Deb Boyle of Avon, CT. She also leaves her niece and nephew, Annemarie Quinn and Stephen Quinn as part of her “care team”.
Kitty was the proud and beloved grandmother to Michael, Thomas, Dennis, Kerry, Jacqueline, Timothy, Bridgette, Conor and Sean. Her grandchildren loved her sense of humor, quick wit, and Irish lullabies. She made it a point to attend all the important events in their lives covering New Hampshire to Kentucky and all points in between.
She was a loving great-grandmother to Emma, Aidan, Elizabeth, Jackson, Bradley, Georgina, Isla, Rory and Ronan. Her large extended family included many nieces, nephews, grandnieces, and grandnephews both in the States and in Ireland. She was the self-appointed Matriarch of the Boyle, Quinn and Baldwin families, always keeping everyone informed of news and planning family gatherings.
Kitty emigrated from Ireland when she was 10 years old and in her 20’s met Phil Boyle who would become her husband. Together they grew a family and left their mark on the Riverdale area. You never saw one without the other.
Kitty was very strong in her faith as a daily communicant and served St. Margaret’s Parish in many ways including being a Reader at Masses, a Eucharistic Minister, bringing communion to those who were house bound, running an annual “Pennies for POTS” fundraiser and being a member of St. Margaret’s Guild. She was also a member of the Ladies Auxiliary of the Knights of Columbus. Kitty held a deep devotion to St. Anne.
After raising her children, Kitty took on a successful career as a Real Estate Broker which spanned over 35 years. Many clients fondly recalled her helping them find their first homes or apartments in Riverdale.
Even though Riverdale was home, her heart was always in Kinsale, Ireland. She could often be heard saying that Kinsale was “the diamond in the Emerald Isle”. Every chance Kitty got she returned home to visit with family and friends. One of her favorite parts of visiting were the singing sessions with the locals.
Kitty will be greatly missed by many. She was one of the last of her generation and will be remembered as the matriarch of the family.
A Wake will be held at Riverdale-on-Hudson Funeral Home located at 6110 Riverdale Ave., Bronx, NY from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Sunday, February 5, 2023. A mass of Christian burial will be held at 9:45 a.m. on Monday, February 6, 2023 at St. Margaret of Cortona Church located at 6000 Riverdale Ave, Bronx, NY.
In lieu of flowers please send donations to Part of the Solution (POTS), located at 759 Webster Avenue, Bronx, New York 10458; Telephone: 718-220-4892; Email: information@potsbronx.org; Website: https://engage.potsbronx.org/donatenow
“I’d prefer a great “dale” to be home in Kinsale, with the [family] round the old Holy Stone” excerpt from the song “The Old Holy Stone” Kinsale.