Kathleen J. "Kathy" (DiNigro) Walker

Mrs. Kathleen J. “Kathy” (DiNigro) Walker, age 57, of West Winfield, passed away unexpectedly in the comfort of her home on Thursday, October 19, 2006. Born in Utica on October 17, 1949, Kathy was the daughter of Josephine (Valenti) and the late Joseph DiNigro. Raised and educated locally, she was a 1967 graduate of Utica Free Academy. On March 7, 1971 she married her faithful friend Mark Walker, and shared with him a wonderful union of 35 years. A warm and empathetic woman, Kathy was a guardian of everyone’s well-being. She was a soul mate to her husband, and a beloved mother to her daughter. Favored with a keen sense of humor, she evoked laughter and cheer from everyone she knew. She was a capable and creative woman, a full time mom, and a competent business partner with her husband in the family enterprise, Turnpike Heating. For recreation, she took an interest in collecting baseball cards and was an avid baseball fan. As a child, she was a talented softball player. Kathy nurtured her love of books, literature, and the fine arts, but her passion was for nature and the outdoors. She was in such harmony with the natural world that she named the deer she so loved to watch. She was a communicant of Historic Old St. John’s Church. Kathy is survived by her husband Mark; her cherished daughter Melissa Walker; and her mother Josephine (Valenti) DiNigro. In addition, she leaves her sisters, Carol DiNigro, Madeline Voce, and Marie Cavoly, all of Utica; her brothers and sisters-in-law, Joseph and Janice DiNigro of West Winfield, Giovanni DiNigro of Cassville, and Carmen and Maria DiNigro of Deerfield. Her extended family includes many aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, great-nieces, great-nephews, and cousins. She was blessed with her dear friends Sandy Krom of Bridgewater, and Janet Archer of Florida. She was predeceased by her sister-in-law, Johanne (Carvelli) DiNigro; her niece, Maria Wawrzaszek; her aunt, Mary Valenti; and her uncle, Jimmy Valenti. The entire family extends its sincere appreciation to the Bridgewater Fire Rescue Squad for their immediate response. In keeping with Kathy’s wishes, there will be no public visitation. Please omit floral offerings. Relatives and friends are respectfully invited to attend Kathy’s Memorial Mass which will be celebrated on Tuesday at 1:00 p.m. at Historic Old St. John’s Church. The family will receive visitors at the conclusion of the service. For those wishing to do so, please consider honoring Kathy’s memory with a contribution in her name to White Tails Unlimited, an organization dedicated to improve, monitor, and promote the habitat of the whitetail deer; envelopes will be available at the service. Entombment will take place in Calvary Cemetery Mausoleum at the convenience of the family. Arrangements have been entrusted to the Eannace Funeral Home, Inc., 932 South St., corner of Hammond Ave.

Kathleen J. "Kathy" (DiNigro) Walker

October 17, 1949 - October 19, 2006