Burlington woman's diverse career enriched the lives of Burlington citizens, especially youth
Kathleen “Kathy” M. Lawrence passed away peacefully, surrounded by her six children on May 27, 2023, after a battle with Parkinson’s disease. Beloved parent, grandparent, friend, community leader, supporter of the arts and style maven, Kathy was a Burlington icon. Kathy was born in Teaneck, N.J., on October 2, 1948, to Kathleen and Donald Tangney. Her dry, New York humor and Irish generosity were among the many gifts she inherited from her stellar parents. Kathy had an eye for design and studied fashion journalism at the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York City. She was a young woman of the 1960s and spent her time in the coffee houses of Greenwich Village, soaking up literature, poetry, music, painting, philosophy and political activism. During this time, she met her former husband, Michael Lawrence, on the boardwalk at the Jersey shore. They moved to Burlington in 1971, bought a house and raised their six children. Kathy became a proud and steadfast Vermonter. She was a lover of the land and community and remained in the same house on South Willard Street until her passing. Kathy’s home embodied what she loved: the incredible happy chaos of six kids plus friends. And although it was a house of many people, she was always able to create a sense of calm. Her kind presence and voice set the tone. The house was imbued with a unique spirit, a paradox of safe coziness and freedom that Kathy so magically orchestrated. She rejected TV but equipped her family with books, records and art from various genres and eras. Kathy loved and celebrated all holidays. Each Christmas, after creating a magical day for her children, she would host a big open house. Everyone was welcome. The house became filled with friends, music and enchilada casserole for all. The parties became legendary and were particularly important to those who otherwise did not enjoy the holiday. Kathy’s greatest joy was being a mother and grandmother. Her kids remember her running up and down the steep stairs of their old house, while carrying babies and baskets of laundry. Her grandkids remember her sitting with them for hours, immersed in imaginative play. She had a progressive approach to child rearing and respected every child’s distinct and innate nature. She had a special relationship with each of her own children, making them feel exceedingly loved, important and unique. She raised them…
Burlington woman's diverse career enriched the lives of Burlington citizens, especially youth
Kathleen “Kathy” M. Lawrence passed away peacefully, surrounded by her six children on May 27, 2023, after a battle with Parkinson’s disease. Beloved parent, grandparent, friend, community leader, supporter of the arts and style maven, Kathy was a Burlington icon. Kathy was born in Teaneck, N.J., on October 2, 1948, to Kathleen and Donald Tangney. Her dry, New York humor and Irish generosity were among the many gifts she inherited from her stellar parents. Kathy had an eye for design and studied fashion journalism at the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York City. She was a young woman of the 1960s and spent her time in the coffee houses of Greenwich Village, soaking up literature, poetry, music, painting, philosophy and political activism. During this time, she met her former husband, Michael Lawrence, on the boardwalk at the Jersey shore. They moved to Burlington in 1971, bought a house and raised their six children. Kathy became a proud and steadfast Vermonter. She was a lover of the land and community and remained in the same house on South Willard Street until her passing. Kathy’s home embodied what she loved: the incredible happy chaos of six kids plus friends. And although it was a house of many people, she was always able to create a sense of calm. Her kind presence and voice set the tone. The house was imbued with a unique spirit, a paradox of safe coziness and freedom that Kathy so magically orchestrated. She rejected TV but equipped her family with books, records and art from various genres and eras. Kathy loved and celebrated all holidays. Each Christmas, after creating a magical day for her children, she would host a big open house. Everyone was welcome. The house became filled with friends, music and enchilada casserole for all. The parties became legendary and were particularly important to those who otherwise did not enjoy the holiday. Kathy’s greatest joy was being a mother and grandmother. Her kids remember her running up and down the steep stairs of their old house, while carrying babies and baskets of laundry. Her grandkids remember her sitting with them for hours, immersed in imaginative play. She had a progressive approach to child rearing and respected every child’s distinct and innate nature. She had a special relationship with each of her own children, making them feel exceedingly loved, important and unique. She raised them…