HOLYOKE - Katherine (Connery) Canata "Kay", as she was widely known, passed away on Friday, February 11, 2011 at Holyoke Medical Center, surrounded by her loving family. A lifelong Holyoke resident, Kay was the daughter of the late Patrick and Catherine (Sheehan) Connery. She was educated in the Holyoke Public Schools, and was a 1934 graduate of Holyoke High School. She was a resident at Mont Marie Health Care Center for the past two years, and had lived at Holyoke Towers for many years. During her working life, Kay was employed as a Hostess and Waitress at both the Yankee Pedlar Inn and the Log Cabin Restaurant. Later in life, Kay worked at Hampden Paper Company and the Holyoke Council on Aging. Active in her community, she served as President of the Holyoke Towers Tenants Association, and worked as a poll worker for local, state and national elections. She also served on the Board of Directors of the Holyoke Housing Authority for many years, and was the first woman to serve as the elected President of that governing body. Kay was predeceased by her husband of fifty-five years, Sal, in 1991, her two brothers, Charles and William Connery, and her son-in-law Kenneth Gilbert. Leaving behind to cherish her memory are her five children: Marilyn Gilbert of Florida, Katherine Lepage (Donald) of Springfield, Sal Jr. (Ann) and Joseph (Constance), both of South Hadley, and Christine Lepage (Hector) of Northampton. She also leaves her twelve grandchildren: David, Michael, Barry, and Joseph Winslow, Sal, Mark, Joseph Jr., and Anthony Canata, Karen (Canata) Boydston, and Derek and Jared Lepage, and Nicole (Lepage) Rigalski. Kay also leaves fourteen great grandchildren, and many nieces, nephews, and special friends. A Funeral Mass celebrating Kay's life will be held Wednesday morning at 10:30 am in Holy Cross Church, Holyoke. The family will receive visitors for one hour prior to the Mass at Holy Cross Church. Burial will be at the convenience of the family, and there will be no calling hours at Barry J. Farrell Funeral Home. In lieu of flowers, Kay's family would like donations made to Mont Marie Health Care Center, 34 Lower Westfield Rd. Holyoke MA 01040 or to the charity of ones choice. Kay's family would like to thank the administration and staff at Mont Marie for the excellent care she received for the past two years.