Katherine Ebersold Cunningham, 86, of East Hartford, CT, loving wife of the late Gerald F. Cunningham, Sr., slipped away peacefully on March 8, 2026, surrounded by her family. Kay was a generous woman who deeply loved her family and had a special way of embracing others, welcoming them into her home and into her heart. She was born in Hartford, CT, on April 26, 1939, the daughter of William and Lucille (Blythe) Ebersold. As a Girl Scout she represented Hartford, New England, and the United States at local, regional, and international encampments. She continued in leadership roles within Scouting, CCD, and PTA. She was a graduate of Mount Saint Joseph Academy and Saint Francis Hospital School of Nursing. On March 23, 1958, Kay met the love of her life, Jerry, on a blind date. He was the highlight of her life from the minute she met him until the day he died. They were married on November 26, 1960. Kay devoted her life to the loving care of her family and others. She loved being a Labor and Delivery Nurse at Saint Francis Hospital for 40 years. In her retirement she volunteered for Habitat for Humanity, Doctors without Borders in the Dominican Republic, House of Bread, and Malta House of Care. She is survived by her five children and their spouses – Kerry Pellicane and husband Robert of Holland, MA: Brian Cunningham and wife Kelly of Hebron, Daniel Cunningham and wife Amy of Middletown, Gerald F. Cunningham Jr. and wife Ann of East Hartford, Maureen Fleming and husband David of Coventry. She was blessed with 15 grandchildren – Christine and husband David, Robert and wife Meg, Kyle and wife Erin, Colton, Christian and wife Shannon, Molly, Alan, Rose, Thomas, Caitlan, Natalie, Nathaniel, Nolan and wife Grace, Blythe, David Jr., and 11 great grandchildren – Kail, Fira, Nils, Tavi, Artemis, Tre, Kaelyn, Caroline, Kelsey, Henry and Gavin; her brother John Ebersold and wife Mary Kay; and many nieces and nephews. She is predeceased by her brother William Ebersold and wife Victoria.
A funeral Mass will be celebrated on Thursday, March 19, 2026, at 10:00 am at SS. Isidore and Maria Parish in St. Paul Church, 2577 Main St., Glastonbury. Burial will be in Mt. St. Benedict Cemetery, Bloomfield. Calling hours will be Wednesday, March 18, 2026, from 4:00 pm to 7:00 pm at Mulryan Funeral Home, 725 Hebron Ave., Glastonbury. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to Malta House of Care in West Hartford. For online condolences, please visit www.mulryanfh.com.