It is with profound sadness that we announce our beloved Kathleen Cosgrove entered into rest on January 14, 2022, at the age of 90.
Daughter of the late Jerome Aloysius Thomson and Margaret King Thomson, she was born March 14, 1931, in Brooklyn, NY. She enjoyed her early life there among her large but close-knit family. Kathy worked as one of the few women employed by Bache and Company Securities in NYC and then went on to raise a family in her much-loved town of Warwick, NY. She later returned to work for Big V Wakefern for 16 years before retiring.
Kathy will always be remembered for her benevolent nature and dedication to her community. In addition to raising her own four children, she served as a foster mother to several others. She also volunteered her time to many organizations, including the League of Women Voters, St. Anthony’s Hospital Auxiliary, Warwick Valley Newcomers Club, and Warwick Valley Seniors.
Kathy maintained an appetite for knowledge all her life, especially for history and geography. She sought to be part of history by dedicating herself to working for the vote for over 20 years, and she fulfilled her passion for geography by traveling the world. Still, some of her most cherished memories were made right here in New York. Above all else, Kathy’s family remained central to her.
As the treasured matriarch of her family, she is survived by her children William Cosgrove, June Cosgrove-Hays, Kathy Colon, and Jeanette Helseth, supported by their respective spouses Vera, Jeffery, Jaime, and Ola. Also surviving are her brother and sister-in-law Jerome and Christine Thomson; grandchildren Eva, Amy, Jonathan, Christopher, Amanda, Olivia, Austin, and Kiersten; and great-grandchildren Alex, Lily, and Penelope. She is predeceased by her brother Bruce Thomson.
Maya Angelou said, “A great soul serves everyone all the time. A great soul never dies. It brings us together again and again.” Kathleen’s loving family will be brought together again to celebrate her life in a private service. Those who knew her remember that she could seldom be found without a book in hand. Books and the libraries that provided them held a special place in her world. In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation in her name to one of her favorite places, the Albert Wisner Public Library.