Kathleen A. Daly

Kathleen Ann Daly, affectionately known to all as Kathy, passed away peacefully on June 30, 2026, at Tufts Medical Center in Boston after a courageous, year-long battle with lung cancer. She was 68 years old.

Born on October 12, 1957, in Somerville, Kathy was the cherished daughter of the late Edith S. (McFadden) and William R. Daly. She grew up in the area and graduated in the late 1970s from Woburn Memorial High School. Kathy lived her teenage years in the 1970s, an era notable for creating some of the most free-spirited and rebellious souls known to date, which deeply shaped the woman she became. She later lived in Salem, Beverly, and surrounding communities before settling in Lowell in the mid-1990s, where she proudly resided for the last 32 years. Soon after moving to Lowell, she began working as a house cleaner for her landlord, a side job she dedicated herself to for many years to bring in extra cash for her family.

Kathy was a woman of true resilience. Life was never easy for her, but she faced every hardship with an open heart and a true flower child spirit. She had a deep, lifelong passion for music, notably soundtracking her life with the iconic sounds of The Rolling Stones, David Bowie, and Johnny Cash. In an era before cellphones and social media, Kathy kept people connected by hosting friends and family every single weekend to play cards, especially cribbage, and catch up. She was a talented seamstress who loved sewing and hemming for her loved ones. She shared an extraordinarily close and tender bond with her granddaughter Lilliannie, making it a point to be a constant, loving presence in her life every single day. She also found peace in her Saturday night routine: winding down while watching her favorite reruns of Columbo, All in the Family, That '70s Show, and Seinfeld.

Kathy had a rare gift for lifting others up, constantly offering help to anyone who crossed her path, even when it cost her more than she had to give. Family was the center of Kathy's world. She shared an unbreakable bond with her siblings, William Daly Jr., Susan Berrigan Daly, John Daly, and the late Brian Daly. The relationship she shared with her sister, Susan, was the absolute definition of sisterly love. As a mother, Kathy fought through immense struggles to raise her three sons, Stanley “Chip” Wood III, William “Bill” Wood, and Daniel Daly. She was her children’s constant safety net and her youngest son's absolute best friend in this life, a bond that will never be replaced. Her family grew to love one another unconditionally through every hardship. While she wore many titles, Kathy found her ultimate joy and true calling in life as a grandmother. She completely poured her heart into her grandchildren: Zack Wood, Daenerys Wood, Stanley "CJ" Wood IV, and Lilliannie Elizabeth Daly.

Kathy was a devout Catholic and a lifelong devotee of Saint Jude, the patron of lost causes, reflecting her own refusal to ever give up on anyone. She valued her countless friends deeply, considering every single one of them a best friend, and was honored to share in their lives.

Relatives and friends are invited to attend Kathy’s Graveside Service at WESTLAWN II CEMETERY, 305 Boston Road, Lowell on Thursday, July 9, 2026 at 9 AM. A Celebration of Life will also be held at a later date to be announced by the family. A special thanks goes out to all the wonderful people who helped fund this to make it possible. In lieu of flowers, donations to assist with continued final expenses can still be made directly to the family's GoFundMe page.