Obituary for Kathleen Cavanaugh
Kathleen Cavanaugh, beloved businesswoman and philanthropist, passed away on Friday, September 29, 2023 in her Canton, Connecticut home. Born in the Bronx, New York, on May 11, 1924, Kathleen attended Holy Spirit Elementary School and graduated in 1940 from Saint Nicholas of Tolentine High School in the Bronx.
After marrying William Cavanaugh on August 25, 1946, after his return from serving in Europe during World War II, they lived in Texas and Massachusetts while he then served as an Air Force pilot until the end of the Korean War. During their 70-year marriage, Kathleen was the business partner with William of several highly successful entrepreneurial enterprises that they owned and operated in the Hartford and Farmington area.
Kathleen also was an accomplished stockbroker and highly respected Asian art expert. She founded and managed with Bill the Phoenix Apollo Gallery, creating a reputation as one of the leading Asian art dealers in New England. Building relationships with Sotheby’s, Christies, and other major auction houses across the US, Kathleen became the trusted advisor for many distinguished families in New England and agent for brokers and buyers in China.
Generous in sharing their expertise in Asian art with others, Kathleen and William became museum benefactors. Their bequests include many unique Chinese pieces that are currently part of collections at the renowned Herbert F. Johnson Art Museum at Cornell University.
Sharing her lifelong devotion to Saint Anthony, Kathleen has given friends, family and new acquaintances medals and prayers of the “saint of miracles”. A faithful patron of the Franciscans, Kathleen worked with the Friars to design and build a special prayer garden at the national Shrine of Saint Anthony in Maryland. Consecrated in May 2022, the William and Kathleen Cavanaugh “Gardens of Eternity” will be a place of natural serenity for all future generations of pilgrims to the shrine to reflect and pray.
Kathleen is survived by her nieces and nephews: Katherine Bergen, Elizabeth Rosso, Eileen Mazzullo, John Bergen and Christopher Bergen. She is predeceased by her beloved husband William, her parents John and Kathryn Almand, her sister Alice Jean Almand Bergen, and her niece Jeanne Bergen Murdy.
Calling hours will be held on Monday, October 9th from 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM at the Vincent Funeral Home, 120 Albany Turnpike in Canton. A solemn Funeral Mass of Christian Burial celebrating Kathleen’s life will be held at 11:00 AM on Tuesday, October 10th at St. Catherine of Siena Church, 265 Stratton Brook Road in West Simsbury, CT. Entombment will be in Cedar Hill Cemetery in Hartford. Her family asks that in lieu of flowers, any donations be made to the Shrine of Saint Anthony, 12290 Folly Quarter Road, Ellicott City, Maryland, 21042 or to a charity of choice. Please visit Kathleen’s Book of Memories at www.vincentfuneralhome.com for online tributes.
After marrying William Cavanaugh on August 25, 1946, after his return from serving in Europe during World War II, they lived in Texas and Massachusetts while he then served as an Air Force pilot until the end of the Korean War. During their 70-year marriage, Kathleen was the business partner with William of several highly successful entrepreneurial enterprises that they owned and operated in the Hartford and Farmington area.
Kathleen also was an accomplished stockbroker and highly respected Asian art expert. She founded and managed with Bill the Phoenix Apollo Gallery, creating a reputation as one of the leading Asian art dealers in New England. Building relationships with Sotheby’s, Christies, and other major auction houses across the US, Kathleen became the trusted advisor for many distinguished families in New England and agent for brokers and buyers in China.
Generous in sharing their expertise in Asian art with others, Kathleen and William became museum benefactors. Their bequests include many unique Chinese pieces that are currently part of collections at the renowned Herbert F. Johnson Art Museum at Cornell University.
Sharing her lifelong devotion to Saint Anthony, Kathleen has given friends, family and new acquaintances medals and prayers of the “saint of miracles”. A faithful patron of the Franciscans, Kathleen worked with the Friars to design and build a special prayer garden at the national Shrine of Saint Anthony in Maryland. Consecrated in May 2022, the William and Kathleen Cavanaugh “Gardens of Eternity” will be a place of natural serenity for all future generations of pilgrims to the shrine to reflect and pray.
Kathleen is survived by her nieces and nephews: Katherine Bergen, Elizabeth Rosso, Eileen Mazzullo, John Bergen and Christopher Bergen. She is predeceased by her beloved husband William, her parents John and Kathryn Almand, her sister Alice Jean Almand Bergen, and her niece Jeanne Bergen Murdy.
Calling hours will be held on Monday, October 9th from 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM at the Vincent Funeral Home, 120 Albany Turnpike in Canton. A solemn Funeral Mass of Christian Burial celebrating Kathleen’s life will be held at 11:00 AM on Tuesday, October 10th at St. Catherine of Siena Church, 265 Stratton Brook Road in West Simsbury, CT. Entombment will be in Cedar Hill Cemetery in Hartford. Her family asks that in lieu of flowers, any donations be made to the Shrine of Saint Anthony, 12290 Folly Quarter Road, Ellicott City, Maryland, 21042 or to a charity of choice. Please visit Kathleen’s Book of Memories at www.vincentfuneralhome.com