Katherine G. (O'Brien) Lamontagne

Katherine G. (O'Brien) Lamontagne, 68, of Merrimack, NH departed on her last road trip and adventure of a lifetime on May 14, 2019, after a very courageous 14-year battle with kidney cancer. She was the wife of Robert H. Lamontagne.
She was born on July 25, 1950 in Hartford, CT, the daughter of the late David I. O'Brien Sr. and Marguerite (Kopernik) O'Brien.
She was educated in the Suffield, CT school system and graduated from Suffield High School in 1968. She attended St. Anselm College (Manchester, NH) and graduated from Notre Dame College for Women (Manchester, NH) with a BS in Sociology in 1972. She received a Master's Degree in Education from the University of North Dakota in 1979.
Katherine married Robert H. Lamontagne on October 28, 1972. He was the love of her life and they celebrated over 46 years of marriage together. She was proud to spend over 26 years of their marriage as an Air Force Wife.
Throughout the years she was a member of the Girl Scouts, AEYC, NAEYC, various Air Force Officer's Wives Clubs, Audubon Society, Wilderness Society, Alpha Sorappa Chi, Quick Kutz Club, and many more.
She volunteered for the American Red Cross, Girl Scouts, various school historical programs, and Beacon Hospice in Nashua, NH.
Her jobs centered around her love of children. She was a Day Care/Pre-School teacher, Assistant Director of a Montessori School (CO), Religious Education Director (US Air Force Academy, CO), Family Day Care Provider (AK), Child Development Director (OH), and substitute Preschool-K & Special Education (VA).
Katherine loved to quilt by hand and machine, sew, arts and crafts, needlework, scrapbooking, and card making. She played piano and guitar, sang in various choirs and folk choirs, and was a Lay Eucharistic Minister.
She was a true friend, great listener, and keeper of confidence with a ready smile and a cheery hello to greet you. Her laugh was heartfelt and genuine. She touched many lives and had a gift of reaching the most unreachable of children, bringing them out of themselves. She loved life, traveling, and most of all her husband, children, and grandchildren. To her it was a lost day when one could not laugh. She will be greatly missed by all who know and love her.
Katherine leaves behind her husband Robert Lamontagne; mother Marguerite O'Brien; daughters Michelle Gargano and husband Jason, and Melissa Kelly and husband Ben; grandchildren Zachary Arrich, Hunter Gargano, Hailey Gargano, Samantha Kelly, Hiker Gargano, and Liam Kelly; brothers David O'Brien Jr. and wife Jeanne, and Thomas O'Brien Sr.; sisters Suzann Anderson and partner Anthony Malone, and Theresa Stoughton and husband Robert; and brothers/sisters in-law Maria O'Brien, Ronald Lamontagne and wife Lydia, Richard Lamontagne and wife Monette, and Charles (Danny) Lawrence.
She also leaves behind her nieces Laura Landry and husband Doug, Maria O'Brien and wife Kelly, Sandra Davis and husband Nathaniel, Sara Collins and husband Paul, and Heather Patton and husband Joseph; nephews William O'Brien, Adam Lawrence and wife Promise, Shawn O'Brien, Thomas O'Brien Jr. and wife Kerry, Chad Lawrence, and Kristofor Anderson; grandnieces Shannon O'Brien, Brianne Davis, Addison Davis, Peyton Lawrence, Raelynn Collins, and Gracyn Collins; and grandnephews Collin O'Brien, Brody O'Brien, Cayden O'Brien, Ryder Lawrence, and Sullivan Collins; as well as many other dear family and close friends.
She was predeceased by her father David O'Brien Sr.; grandson Holden Gargano; brother John O'Brien; mother-in-law Yvette Lamontagne; sisters–in-law Susan Lawrence and Donna O'Brien; nieces Christina O'Brien, Danielle Lawrence, and Samantha O'Brien; and nephew Patrick Lawrence.
A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated on Monday, May 20, 2019 at St. Raphael Church, 103 Walker St., Manchester. Committal Prayers followed in NH State Veterans Cemetery, 110 Daniel Webster Highway, Boscawen. In lieu of flowers, consider donating in her memory to the Dana Farber Cancer Institute, C/O: Dr. Toni Choueiri Research Fund, 450 Brookline Ave, Boston MA 02215. It is Katherine's wish that the money be used in Kidney Cancer Research.