Kathleen Campbell-Serafini (Whitley)

Kathleen was born in Enniskillen, Northern Ireland, and immigrated to the United States at age 18. Over the course of her rich and fulfilled life, there were many places she called home, but home, as they say, is where the heart is.

She came to Newport, Rhode Island as a young woman, where she met her husband, Robert Campbell. They married, and moved to Connecticut (East Hartford then Enfield) to raise their four children until Robert's death in 1991. She called Connecticut home for the next 60 years, but maintained close contact with her family in Ireland, and enjoyed annual visits, often traveling with her sister, Una Lembo, who'd also moved to the US. Ireland never really left Kathleen either. Her hard-working, Irish tradition was always part of her. She was particular about her tea and Irish soda bread, and retained her Irish brogue and colloquialisms for all her life.

Kathleen was a proud woman with refined taste. She took great care to maintain proper appearances and decorated her home with tasteful artifacts that reflected her Irish heritage. Her hair was always perfect, and she was always well dressed and prepared for company. Her family often jested that she did all of her household cleaning in heels.

She remarried to Joseph Serafini in 1999,moved to New Hartford, CT, and discovered a more relaxed sense of fashion. She learned to accept denim as proper attire, and allowed Joe to put the top down on the car, with less regard for her hair. Most recently, the couple retired to Sebastian, Florida, where she passed on May 7, four days before Mother's Day, in the company of her husband and her children.

Kathleen was a long-time member of Enfield's Claddagh Club and the Holy Family Parish.

She is predeceased by her first husband Robert Campbell, and her siblings Maureen Whitley, Una Lembo, Nora Tunney, and Aidan Whitley.

Kathleen is survived by her husband, Joseph Serafini of New Hartford, CT and Sebastian, FL; her son John Campbell and his wife Betty Maloof, and their son Thomas Campbell (Portsmouth, RI); her son Robert (Bob) Campbell (Sanford, FL), her son Kevin Campbell and his wife Laurie and children Kyle, Meagan, Sean, and Caitlin (Enfield, CT); and her daughter Kathleen (Katie) Campbell and her husband Ron Plante (East Hartford, CT)

She is also survived by several siblings in Northern Ireland and England: Beatrice Whitley, Moira Monaghan, Brendan Whitley, Seamus Whitley, Thomas Whitley, and Bridie Fowler as well as many nephews and nieces.

Kathleen called many places her home, but her true home was in her heart, where her family always had a special place.

Funeral Mass will be held at 10:00 am on Saturday, May 31st, 2014 at Holy Family Church, 23 Simon Rd, Enfield, CT 06082