Kathleen F. Connor-Garand

Kathleen (“Kate”) F. Connor-Garand, 91 of West Chester, PA passed away Sunday December 1, 2024 at Chester County Hospital in West Chester. 

Born August 5, 1933 in Ridley Park, PA, she was the daughter of the late Alfred J. Gorand and the late Margaret M. O'Connor Gorand.  She was preceded in death by her siblings Al Gorand (New Mexico) and Nancy Gorand (Florida).   

Kate grew up in Delaware County, PA, and in 1955 graduated from Immaculata University.  After raising her family, she returned to graduate school, attending Widener University Delaware Law School.  She was one of only a few women in her class. She was appointed by the Governor of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania to serve on the Valley Forge Park Commission, and there she helped oversee the transfer of Valley Forge from state park to National Park at the time of the Bicentennial in 1976. After earning her J.D. in 1978, she opened her private practice in West Chester. She later worked for several years as an assistant solicitor for Chester County, handling a variety of local government matters.

Kate was a devout member of St. Agnes R.C. Church. She regularly attended prayer group with her friends, affectionately known as the “holy ladies.”   She was also active in a lay ministry using monstrances to promote devotion to God. One was gifted to and accepted by the Pope in the 1990’s.

She enjoyed writing poetry, watching (but not playing) golf, and visiting her special vacation location of Avalon, NJ, especially when her mother lived there year-round.  Kate loved to garden, particularly raising a variety of roses at each of her residences.  She deeply valued spending time with her many friends.  Her kindness, humor, and smile will be missed by them all. 

Kate was a world traveler.  She described her world-wide pilgrimage to various holy shrines, such as Our Lady of Lourdes, and to the Holy Land, as one of the highlights of her life. Her trips took her to Canada, Ireland, Russia, Poland, Italy, France, Spain, Portugal, and Japan.  She even spent several months in Central America visiting the family of her college roommate and learning some Spanish.  She often reminisced about her time there watching volcanoes, exploring fincas, and climbing Mayan ruins.

Kate is survived by her children Peggy, Sean, Marta, and Katie, who was a loving caregiver in her last stages of life, as well as grandchildren, Katie Marie, Christopher Paul, Allison Marie, Joseph Mikael, Nicholas Maximilian, Steven Richard, Elizabeth Marie, Lyndsey Marie, Matthew Robert, Emily Marie, Kevin James, and Amanda Marie, along with their spouses and significant others, and great-grandchildren, Luke John, Gemma and Dale.  

Relatives and friends are invited to her Visitation on Tuesday, December 10, 2024, from 9:00 a.m. - 9:45 a.m. at St. Agnes Church, 233 W. Gay St., West Chester, PA 19380, followed by her Funeral Mass at the Church beginning at 10:00 a.m.

Interment will follow immediately in St. Agnes Cemetery, 1050 Pottstown Pike, West Chester PA. 

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests that any contributions be made to St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital, which was a favorite charity for Kate.  

Arrangements by DellaVecchia, Reilly, Smith & Boyd Funeral Home, Inc. of West Chester, PA 610-696-1181; www.DellaFH.com