Kathleen "Kitty" Jones

Kathleen Kitty Marie (McGoldrick) Jones, 87, Green Bay, WI, was born to eternal life on July 29, 2012. Kitty was born on February 22, 1925 in Superior, WI to the late Patrick J. and Mary C. (Hanley) McGoldrick who emigrated from Ireland in 1922. For many years, Pat McGoldrick owned and operated Baum’s Department Store in Green Bay. Kitty was the oldest of four girls. She graduated from St. Joseph Academy in 1943. She attended Rosary College in River Forest, IL; then Barry College in Miami Shores, FL where she was an avid tennis player, graduating in 1947. Some of her favorite memories as a young girl included summer vacations in Three Lakes, WI with her family and traveling to New York and other big cities with her father to buy merchandise for his department store. Kitty was very proud of her Irish heritage and enjoyed anything related to Ireland. She had fond memories of taking trips to Ireland with her parents and siblings as a young woman. Another one of her fondest memories was traveling to England in 1937 (when she was 12 years old) to witness the coronation of King George VI and Queen Elizabeth II at Westminster Abbey. On December 27, 1947, she married Robert (“Bob”) Jones at St. Francis Cathedral in Green Bay to whom she was married for 47 years. He preceded her in death on January 4, 1995. Kitty was an active volunteer in the Green Bay community for many decades while raising nine children. She was a member of Service League of Green Bay; worked on various projects for Boy Scouts of America, St. Matthew School, Abbot Pennings High School and St. Joseph Academy; delivered meals on wheels; volunteered at Heritage Hill State Park and served many other organizations in the Green Bay area. Kitty loved attending Green Bay Packers games in her earlier years and enjoyed playing tennis and golf. For many decades, she was an avid Bridge player and belonged to the “Even Dozen Bridge Club”. Kitty (and her late husband, Bob) also enjoyed Ballroom Dancing. In her later years, Kitty enjoyed playing Bingo and with “the luck of the Irish” would often win. Kitty especially loved to be with her nine children and seven grandchildren. She frequently traveled to Chicago for a visit with her son, Tom and his family for shopping, dining, and sightseeing and would proudly tell everyone she was “from Green Bay, WI”. She particularly enjoyed having tea at various landmark hotels and shopping for shoes and Irish gifts. Kitty also enjoyed going to Door County with her children and to the family cottage built by her father-in-law, Andy (“A.T.”) Jones, the founder of Jones Sign Company in Green Bay. Kitty was uniquely kind, loving, friendly and sincere and she loved all people. She was always quick with a warm smile and a compliment. She enjoyed the simple pleasures of life and rarely complained about anything. She was extremely polite and well-mannered and always knew the right thing to say to others. Her unfailing positive attitude and sincere respect for all people shall forever inspire us. Kitty cherished her many wonderful high school and college friends with whom she stayed very close and who were graciously supportive of her in these last few challenging years. Kitty is survived by her nine children, Terry Ann and her husband Richard Hassen, Anaheim Hills, CA; Kathy, Lake Havasu, AZ; Andy, Lake Havasu, AZ; Patrick, Green Bay, WI; Paul and his wife Denise, Phoenix, AZ; Dr. Peggy and her husband Alan Willenbrock, Tucson, AZ; Tim, Newport Beach, CA; Betsi and her husband Tad Willenbrock, Cherry Hills Village, CO; Tom and his wife Susan, Wilmette, IL; seven grandchildren, Melissa (Jeremy) Wacht, Courtney Jones, Matthew Jones, AZ; R.C. Willenbrock, Nick Willenbrock, CO; Quinton Jones, Evan Jones, IL. Kitty is also survived by a brother-in-law, Bob Reis, DePere, WI; nieces, nephews, cousins and many special friends. Kitty was preceded in death by her parents, Patrick and Mary McGoldrick, three sisters, Mary Gertrude McGoldrick, Terry Reis, and Patricia Ahern; her mother-in-law and father-in-law, Marie and Andy Jones; brothers-in-law, Michael Ahern, Clayton (“Kay”) Jones and Norbert White; sisters-in-law, Yvonne Jones and Mary Jane (“Jackie”) White. Family and friends are invited to a visitation on Friday, August 3, 2012 from 4:00p.m. to 7:00p.m. at St. Matthew Catholic Church, 130 St. Matthew St., Allouez. A parish wake service will be held at 7:00p.m. Visitation will continue on Saturday, August 4, 2012 from 10:00a.m. to 11:00 a.m. at the church. A Mass of Christian Burial for Kitty will be celebrated at 11:00 a.m. with Kitty’s nephew, Fr. Mark Jones presiding. Private burial in Allouez Catholic Cemetery. Cotter Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements. Online condolences may be sent to Kitty’s family at www.cotterfuneralhome.com. The family wishes to thank all of the medical personnel in Green Bay who cared for Kitty over the last several years as well as all of the outside caretakers who graciously kindly assisted with Mom’s care.