Catherine Leota Clapp (Kurtz)

Catherine Leota (Kurtz) Clapp, 97, passed away March 20, 2018 at Highland Hospital in Rochester NY. As the last surviving child of Joseph and Helena Kurtz of Wayland NY, she was preceded in death by her parents, her four (4) brothers and five (5) sisters, Jack her husband of 67 years, and also by her sons in law, Jim Donald and Tom Newton. She is survived by her children, John (Cathy), Helen Keough (Bill), Suzanne Donald, Elizabeth, Mary Kay, Debbie Kmentt (Eric) and Roger and also by 17 grandchildren and 14 great grandchildren.

Kay or Katie, as she was known to friends and family, was raised on the family farm, graduated high school in Wayland and moved to Rochester to attend Rochester Business Institute. After marrying Jack, her home and her family became her life's work. An expert baker, cook, vegetable and fruit canner, and overall homemaker, she raised her seven (7) children, inventing numerous methods for making a pound of hamburger go a long way. With all that, she still found time for gardening, her bowling league and her neighborhood card club.

For the past six (6) years, Kay was a resident at Seabury Woods in Gates, part of the Episcopal Senior Life Communities. Friendly with a quick smile, active and outgoing (and sometimes outspoken), she made many friends among the residents and staff. She was an avid reader, she took part in discussion groups, and was an enthusiastic participant in the residents' card club playing Euchre, a game she loved to play with her grandkids. At 92, she took up painting, something she had always wanted to do. With some instruction and encouragement from the staff, she became quite prolific and created more than 40 paintings. She enjoyed all her activities, but most of all she reveled in the visits from her grandchildren and great grandchildren who came often and brought smiles to all. If we look for a person's legacy, they are her special legacy.

The family would like to thank the staff of the Highland Hospital Palliative Care Group for their kindness and caring during Kay's stay in the Hospital. Services and burial will be a family affair at a later date during the summer. Anyone wishing to honor her memory may make a donation to Highlands Hospice Care Service or to the Hospice Service of choice.