Catherine Donnelly

Catherine (Kathleen) Donnelly, beloved mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, passed away peacefully on Easter Sunday, April 20, 2025 at the age of 90 in Spokane, Washington. Born on February 8, 1935, in Belfast, Northern Ireland, Kathleen was the only child of Patrick and Agnes Donnelly. After the loss of her mother in infancy, she was lovingly raised by her maternal grandmother (Catherine Beattie) and her maternal aunt, Josephine (Aunt Jo) Beattie (later Bauer), whose presence shaped Kathleen's life for many decades. Aunt Jo lived alongside Kathleen across many moves over the years. At age 16, Kathleen and her aunt Josephine emigrated to the United States, on a ship called the Neptunia. She recalled the Greek sailors all admired her red hair. They settled in Santa Monica, California. She graduated from Santa Monica High School in 1953 and briefly discerned a vocation to religious life, spending time with the Columban Sisters, an Irish missionary order at their novitiate in Boston. Although she ultimately chose another path, the deep faith she found there remained central throughout her life and she remained connected to the Columban sisters over the years. In 1956, Catherine married Andrew McCruden in New York, and together they raised three sons: Andrew, Patrick, and Kevin. In 1973, she married Martin Huh, and together they welcomed a daughter, Kathleen. Over the course of her life, Kathleen lived in Belfast, California, Massachusetts, New York, Pennsylvania, California again and finally Spokane, Washington where she spent her last thirteen years close to her son Kevin and family. A lifelong Catholic, Kathleen maintained a lively interest in religion, politics and Church affairs. She combined her faith with a lifelong intellectual curiosity. Even at the age of 90, she remained a voracious reader, staying engaged with current events through periodicals like the New.York.Review. of.Books, online Irish newspapers, and her ever-present Kindle. Her mind remained sharp, questioning, and vibrant till the end. Kathleen also had a passionate love for Irish history and politics. She was deeply committed to the cause of Northern Ireland’s reunification with the Republic of Ireland, carrying that hope close to her heart throughout her life. Kathleen is survived by her children: Andrew (Josie) McCruden, Patrick (Susan) McCruden, Kevin (Kerry) McCruden, Kathleen (David) Dumain. She was the proud grandmother of Danny, Sarah, Marie, Theresa, Liam, Sam, Kieran, and Teagan, and the delighted great-grandmother of Tommy and Anita. She was predeceased by her parents, her dear aunt Josephine, many cousins, uncles and aunts, and her granddaughter Marie. Kathleen’s life was a testament to perseverance, faith, intellect, and love. Her quick wit, fierce intelligence, enduring faith, and profound loyalty to family and her Irish heritage will remain a lasting inspiration to all who knew her. A Memorial Mass will be celebrated at a later date. She requested her remains to be buried in Belfast alongside her mother.