Kathryn Dawn (Harris) Casey, 69, of Manchester, New Hampshire, passed away peacefully at her home on August 17, 2026, surrounded by her loving family, following a courageous battle with cancer. Born on August 17, 1957, to Raymond Harris and Virginia (Cadorette) Harris, Kathy grew up in Burlington, Massachusetts.

Kathy shared 42 years of marriage with her husband, Joseph Casey. Together, they raised four children, Adam, Garrett, Rachel, and Shannon, and built a life centered around family, love, tradition, and being together.

Kathy graduated from Matignon High School and earned her bachelor’s degree in nursing from Fitchburg State University. She dedicated more than 30 years to her career as a registered nurse, working at Mount Auburn Hospital, Desert Springs Hospital, and, most recently, Elliot Hospital, where she was a founding member of the hospitalist program. Nursing was more than a career to Kathy; caring for others was simply who she was. She took tremendous pride in her work, and working alongside her esteemed colleagues at Elliot Hospital brought her a deep sense of purpose and fulfillment every day. She found lifelong friends there, including Kate Schneider, who graciously supported Kathy and her family during her battle with cancer. Together, Kate and Kathy were honored with a Daisy Award for contribution to nursing care and education at Elliot Hospital.

While Kathy loved her career, her greatest joy was being a mother to her four children, “Lolly” to her precious grandchildren, Camilla and Kieran, and a beloved aunt to more than 30 nieces and nephews. Family was the center of Kathy’s world, and she had a remarkable way of making the people she loved feel special.

No one celebrated quite like Kathy. She loved holidays, birthdays, weddings, and every occasion in between. No matter the time of year, her home was decorated for whatever celebration was coming next. She was an extraordinarily thoughtful gift giver, keeping notes and lists throughout the year so that by Christmas, everyone she loved received something chosen especially for them. Kathy never missed an opportunity to show someone how much they meant to her. To be loved by Kathy was to know you were loved deeply.

She brought that same creativity and care to everything she did. Kathy loved sewing and crafting, creating holiday and party decorations, elaborately wrapping gifts, coloring with her grandchildren, reading, and baking her much-loved chocolate chip cookies.

Some of Kathy’s happiest days were spent by the ocean, especially at York Beach, Maine, and Englewood Beach, Florida. In York, you could find her in her favorite chair with a book, searching for seashells, or hopping over the waves with her grandchildren. She treasured summers spent together there: listening to the waves crash along Long Sands Beach, gathering around the big dining table for family meals, playing cards, laughing, and telling stories.

Kathy is survived by her husband, Joseph Casey; her children, Adam Casey of Dunbarton, NH; Garrett Casey and his wife, Talia Casey, of Windham, NH; Rachel Casey of London, UK; and Shannon Casey of Washington, DC; her cherished grandchildren, Camilla Casey and Kieran Casey; her parents, Raymond Harris and Virginia Harris of Port Charlotte, FL; her sister, Jean Harris, and her wife, Cherie Knudson, of North Port, FL; her brother, Robert Harris, and his wife, Kris Harris, of Gloucester, MA; and many beloved nieces, nephews, cousins, extended family members, friends, and colleagues.

A Memorial Gathering for Kathryn will be held from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. on August 26 at Phaneuf Funeral Homes & Crematorium, 250 Coolidge Avenue in Manchester, NH. A private celebration of Kathy’s life will follow on August 27.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to The Jimmy Fund at the Dana Farber Cancer Institute in Kathy’s memory.

To view Kathryn's Online Tribute, send condolences to the family, or for more information, visit www.phaneuf.net