Kathleen P Oliveira

Kathleen Patricia “Aunt Pat”, “Mom Pat”, “Patty O’Toole” (Downey) Oliveira, 84, of Ocala, Florida, and Fairhaven, Massachusetts, passed away peacefully in her sleep on Saturday, December 12, 2020, at home surrounded by loving family and friends.

Born in New Bedford, Massachusetts, she was the second youngest of 11 children of the late John James Sr. and Florence (Bosworth) Downey of Fairhaven, Massachusetts.  Mom was a graduate of New Bedford Vocational High School where she learned to become an exceptional seamstress and her neat and organized folding skills of clothing and linens was greatly appreciated by the commercial laundries where she worked.  Mom was well-known for these skills and could pack a suitcase like no one else.  She also “drove bus” for several school districts in Massachusetts and we were so proud of her when we found out that all the children who were entrusted in her care during the Blizzard of 1978 were driven home safely.

Mom enlisted the United States Navy serving with distinction as a WAVE.  She joined her father and seven brothers in service to this great country.  Mom was passionate about researching the genealogy of the Downey family and was always eager to share her findings with family and friends.  Most notable was her involvement in the recognition of Medal of Honor recipient William Lawrence Downey who was awarded this distinction for his heroic action during the Civil War. 

Mom had very fond memories of the trip she took to Ireland with her three sisters Helen, Mary and Barbara in 1995 and was always happy to reminisce and share her many pictures and colorful stories.  Mom also travelled to France with her daughter Doris and son-in-law Marc in June 2009 and considered the highlight of this month-long trip to be her invitation to attend the 65th anniversary of the allied invasion of Normandy.  This ceremony, honoring all service members who fought and died on D-Day June 6, 1945, is held annually at the American Cemetery and Memorial at Colleville-Sur-Mer, FR.  In attendance that day were U.S. President Barack Obama, French President Nicolas Sarkozy, Prince Charles of Wales, Prime Minister of the United Kingdom Gordon Brown, Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper and American Battle Monuments Commission Secretary Max Cleland and more than 1000 fellow veterans.

Mom made friends easily wherever she went and with her twinkling eyes and lilting laugh she was a delight to all.  She loved music, and among her favorites were Hank Williams Sr, Roy Orbison, Patsy Cline, Freddy “Boom Boom” Cannon and, of course, Irish tunes.

Mom is survived by her five daughters Mary Ann Ociesa of Venice, Florida; Doris Cramer and her husband Marc of Ocala, Florida; Susan Sutherland and her husband Michael Chmura of Waltham, Massachusetts; Helen Snaith and her husband Scott of Walton County, Florida; Deb Rapoza and her husband Brian of South Dartmouth, Massachusetts; and son John McBarron and his wife Julie of St. John, US Virgin Islands; six grandchildren; four great grandchildren (plus one on the way); one great, great grandchild; her sister, Barbara Affonce of Acushnet, Massachusetts and many beloved nieces, nephews, and other relatives and friends.

Mom was the widow of both Harold Eugene Sutherland of Gonzales, Texas, Port Orchard, Washington and North Port, Florida and Edward Oliveira of Dartmouth, Massachusetts.