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Kathleen G. Rafferty

Kathleen G. Rafferty

Kathleen G. Rafferty, 91, of Williamsport, passed away peacefully at her home Monday evening, Feb. 27, 2017.

She was the widow of Daniel W. Rafferty, who died in 1986. They had been married 38 years at the time of his passing, and she maintained her vows to him the rest of her life.

Born in Williamsport, on July 1, 1925, she was the daughter of the late James P. and Sarah M. (Rader) Griffin. She was a 1944 graduate of the former St. Joseph High School in Williamsport and a life-long member of the Roman Catholic Church of the Annunciation, now St. Joseph the Worker Parish in Williamsport. She served many years as an extraordinary minister for her church. She was a long-time volunteer for Meals on Wheels and a former member and leader of the Anawim Prayer Group, as well as the Catholic Daughters.

She once made a religious pilgrimage to Yugoslavia, which had a profound effect on her. To explore her Irish heritage, she once visited Ireland where she kissed the Blarney Stone.

Whenever prayers were needed in time of crisis, her family and friends always turned to her because of her unwavering faith and trust in Jesus.

In her earlier years, she worked as a clerk for Cady’s News and as a newsstand clerk at the former Lycoming Hotel. After graduation, she worked as a switchboard operator for the Bell Telephone Company of Pennsylvania, becoming one of the youngest switchboard supervisors in the company’s history. She was a member of the Telephone Pioneers. She also worked as a switchboard operator for the Pennsylvania Railroad and later as a clerk for Sunset Fabrics.

She enjoyed walking, reading, sewing, knitting, dogs (especially Kelly, Molly, Lollipup, Seamus and Jo-Jo), several cats along the way, watching college football and cheering on Notre Dame and Penn State. But most of all, she enjoyed visits from her family and attending family special events.

In addition to her parents and husband, she was predeceased by a son, Dennis J. Rafferty; and brothers, Robert F. Griffin Sr., Patrick M. Griffin and William Mosser.

She is survived by a daughter, Janet L. Eisner (Steve Eisner), of Marlton, N.J.; three sons, Michael R. (Patricia Roth), Daniel T. (Bill Wallick) and Patrick J. Rafferty, all of Williamsport; 10 grandchildren, Ryan C. Rafferty (Beth), Sharon R. Nevill (Joseph) and Meghan Rafferty Mercaldo, all of Williamsport, Brennan J. Rafferty (Jennifer), Breinigsville, and Reagan D. Rafferty (Kristen), of Berwick, Alicia Eisner Ball (Chris), of Medford, N.J. and Joel R. Eisner, of Richmond, Va.; Kathleen S. Flock (John), Daniel M. Rafferty and Tessie J. Rafferty, all of Williamsport; 11 great-grandchildren, Michael and Mason Nevill, Cody Miller; Marlayna, Michael and Madilyn Mercaldo, Thomas, Evelyn and Samuel Rafferty, Rosemary and Zachary Flock; several nephews and nieces; a former daughter-in-law, Kelly Renck; and her two wonderful friends, Sue Shadduck and Bonnie Wertman.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated in St. Joseph the Worker Parish, 702 W. Fourth St., Williamsport, on Friday, March 3, 2017, at 10 a.m. Her pastor, the Rev. Brian Van Fossen, will officiate. Friends may call at the church portico on Friday morning from 8:45 to 9:45 a.m. Burial will be in Wildwood Cemetery. The family will provide the flowers, and in lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in Kathleen’s memory may be made to St. John Neumann Regional Academy, 901 Penn St., Williamsport, or to St. Joseph the Worker Parish, 711 W. Edwin St., Williamsport, PA 17701.www.crousefuneralhome.com