Kathleen H (Hogan) McDermott

Kathleen (Kathy) McDermott, 72, of Pearl River passed away on Tuesday evening, August 9, 2022, after a long battle with leukemia and other medical issues. She was born on March 4, 1950, in the Inwood section of Manhattan.  Her parents were Michael Hogan 
of Limerick and Mary (Marie) Tevnan Hogan of Gallway, Ireland.

Kathy graduated from Good Shepherd Elementary School and Mt. St. Ursula Academy in the Bronx.  She obtained her Associates Degree from Westchester Community College and earned an LPN Degree from Columbia Presbyterian School of Nursing.  She worked as a nurse at two Nursing Homes in the Bronx before moving to Rockland County.  She worked as an orthodontist assistant for many years.

Kathy also did volunteer work at the Kathy Lukens Venture Center in Sparkill and was a teacher’s aide in the Nanuet School System.

Kathy is survived by her devoted husband of 47 years, Dan and by their loving son Ryan and his fiancé, Jill Diaz of Brooklyn.   She is also survived by her two sisters, Maureen Slakas of Manhattan and Sheila Smith of Hoosick Falls, NY.  She is predeceased by her son Michael.

From her early days in Inwood to her time at Mt St Ursula to her life in Pearl River, there was something magical about Kathy.  She was a caring, fun loving, person to whom people were drawn close through her engaging smile and wonderful sense of humor.  Kathy connected with everyone she met.  She was a world class shopper, fashionista, avid exerciser , dancer, reader, word games player and traveler. She had an amazing inner strength and a strong will to live.  Her treating oncologist described her as a “remarkable wonder woman.”

Kathy was the first to volunteer to help her friends, family and the community.  Together with her husband Dan and son Ryan, an example of their willingness to sacrifice for others is epitomized in the 20-year remembrance of Michael’s passing, with the Michael McDermott Scholarship Program that has aided dozens of graduating high school students with their college tuition. 

She was known by several names depending on the time of her life.  She was known as Kathleen by her family and early childhood friends.  She was known as Hogie (for Hogan) during her teens through her thirties.  When she moved to Rockland, her new friends called her Kathy.  Her latest moniker among nieces and nephews is Aunt Ko-Ko.  One grandnephew called her “Hot Ko-Ko.”

Visitation will be held at Wyman-Fisher Funeral Home in Pearl River on Tuesday, August 16 from 5-8 PM.  A Memorial Mass will be celebrated at 10:00 AM on Wednesday, August 17 at St Aedan’s Church.  In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Venture Foundation.

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