M. Kathleen “Kitty” (Durgin) Westall, age 79, of North Oxford, has joined many family and friends in heaven on June 29, 2011, from a short illness due to kidney cancer.

Kitty was a kind, generous, loving woman who will be missed immensely by all of the family and friends whose lives she enriched. She was born and lived in Worcester for 27 years and in North Oxford for 52 years. Her husband, David Westall predeceased her in 1981.

She leaves her children: David Westall and his wife Gael, Roy Westall and his wife LouAnn, Catherine Kuzmeskus and her husband Douglas, Mark Westall and his wife Kimberly. Her son, Wayne Westall predeceased her in 1975. Her grandchildren, who she enjoyed and loved tremendously: David Westall, Tara Barnett and husband Bruce, Jeffrey Westall, Jonathan Westall, Jason Westall and her great granddaughter: Kinley Barnett. Her loving sisters, Dorothy Parker and her husband Donald, Sandra Handfield and her husband Jack, her sisters-in-law, Ann Durgin, Janice Westall, and Shirley Finnegan; her many nieces, nephews and good friends who all held a special place in her heart. She was predeceased by her parents, Muriel (Smith) Durgin and George Durgin; her sisters, Ruth Johnson, Joan Lee and her brother, Donald Durgin.

Kitty graduated from Commerce High School in Worcester and also attended a local hospital nursing program. As a fifty-two year member of the First Baptist Church of North Oxford, she served as the treasurer and a deacon and in the women’s club. In addition, she participated in most all church functions. Her volunteer work continued with the Oxford Food Shelf, Friends of the Oxford Library and the Oxford Senior Center. Over the years, she was a Girl Scout leader, Cub Scout leader, and a Lassie League coach.

She proudly attended the important life events of her children, grandchildren, nieces, nephews and friends. These experiences included sporting, academic and social events. Kitty’s greatest love was children. In addition to raising 5 children of her own, she babysat for her grandchildren and many neighborhood children as well. After waiting a long time for a new baby in the family, she was blessed with a new great-granddaughter, Kinley, who lit up her life.

She also enjoyed her job of driving a school bus in Oxford which allowed her to surround herself with children. Visiting with her friends, bowling, baking, reading, and going to the movies and theatre filled her free time. Kitty would like to thank all of her friends and family for a lifetime of good memories.

Per Kitty’s request there will be no calling hours. A celebration of her life will be held at the First Baptist Church, 693 Main St., North Oxford, at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, July 9, 2011. Burial will follow at Worcester County Memorial Park in Paxton. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations in Kitty’s memory can be made to the First Baptist Church, P.O. Box 577, North Oxford, MA 01537. Paradis Funeral Home of Oxford will be assisting the family with the arrangements.