Katharine Souza Obituary
Katharine M. Souza (Blick), of Gloucester, passed away peacefully on May 22, 2025, at Seacoast Rehabilitation Home where she was suddenly, and briefly, placed under Hospice Care. She was the proud middle daughter born to the late READM USN Robert E. Blick, Jr and Laura (Kimball) Blick.
Despite the loss of her beloved "Mummy" as a young child she never let that early loss dampen her radiant smile. Her smile was her signature. She wore that smile in whispering some of the last words she spoke to her daughter, "I miss you" and "I love you to the moon.".
Kappy was always one to listen and observe never wanting to be the center of attention. She would offer her opinion or sage advice to her children and later grandchildren, such as, "PLEASE don't get a tattoo of an entire Kahlua Bottle on your calf at 18yo.". If she disagreed, she would let you find your way, never making you feel unheard nor disrespected.
She didn't want to bother anyone, EVER, and she was steadfast in that desire right to the end.
She and her sisters, Barb and Fran, were "best friends". They traveled around the world following "Daddy" in the USN. However, her "home base" was always and will forever be, Mussel Point, here in Gloucester.
She was fortunate enough to be raised by "a village" of family; extended family, and lifelong "generational" family friends at "the Point". She and her sisters had an active childhood, especially in summers when the Point was bustling with summer residents/relatives. She was like a mermaid swimming in the water there, graceful and adept. As such, she was a lifeguard and swim instructor at many Gloucester Beaches.
She was finally able to stay here to graduate from Gloucester High School in 1955. After GHS she went to Connecticut College where she received her B.A. in Liberal Arts. More importantly to her though, was traveling abroad for the entire summer after college. She loved the history, culture, and independence that afforded her more than any "formal education".
After marrying, she lived in Long Island, NY later moving back to East Gloucester with her most cherished gifts, her three daughters, Laura, Joanie, & Phoebe. Her life as a stay-at-home Mom was something she didn't take for granted especially not having her own Mom during many pivotal moments in life never missing an opportunity to say, "I love you".
She was a fierce protector, and later, sole provider for her children. She waitressed; worked her way up from part- time Bank Teller to Bank Manager at many local banks and eventually retiring from a career in Finance for the Federal Government at NOAA.
Her children, and grandchildren, always loved, admired, and were in awe of her strength in all aspects of her life. Her eldest daughter, Laura, would often say, "I always felt so safe with Mum, she never showed a sense of worry or fear. It made me know that we were always going to be okay no matter what.".
One memorable time was at Good Harbor Beach. All three of us, and several other friends, were caught in a not too deep, but deep enough, undertow. With her keen awareness of our abilities and whereabouts, she saw the tired panicked looks on our faces, "dog-paddling", the youngest starting to cry, she leapt out of her chair. Like a gazelle, she ran that beach so gracefully, and we always remembered how calm, reassuring, and determined she was. We were terrified. She was our "Super-hero" before we even knew what that was. One by one she plucked us out of the water to safety. Taught us gently how to "always swim across, not against the tide to get out of an undertow". It certainly never happened again even when we later moved back to "her home" and spent summers swimming out to lobster pots and floating on innertubes just as she had done as a child on Mussel Point.
To be clear, Kappy has been through extremely trying times in her life that could break the most hardened individual, specifically the devastating loss of both her eldest and youngest daughters. However, she would never ever want pity from anyone. She was gentle, sweet, kind, and was selfless in her life. If loss broke her, no one would be the wiser as she never stopped laughing and loving deeply.
Whether STILL swimming off the rocks at Mussel Point even after reading and watching "JAWS; dancing to Tom Jone's, "It's Not Unusual" while vacuuming; sailing on the "Isolde" ; watching the latest Bond 007 release; vacationing at Disney with her growing family; attending concerts from Celene Dion, Neil Diamond, to Adele; or the simple pleasures of sunbathing ANYWHERE; or a walk at Halibut Point; or gazing from her home as the sun sets, our Mum/Grammy was full of joy whenever, wherever she could be with the ones she loved past and present.
She was so proud and grateful for her wise and beautiful grandchildren and felt robbed by what COPD, such an insidious disease, kept her from doing in later years with them and her great-granddaughters.
Her family and extended family were most precious to her above all else. She forged decades long bonds with friends & neighbors whom she adored. In addition, she always looked forward to seeing Senior Care's, Lisa Riley, whose visits over many years helped her stay independent.
Imperfect sure, but she was uniquely special in all that is good and decent on this earth. We will miss her immensely, but we know that she is with those we have lost, probably on a pristine beach watching the sun rise and fall on the ocean she so loved.
Survived by a loving daughter and son-in-law, Joan and Alex Ballarin; grandson, who she "loved to bits and pieces", "AJ" Ballarin and his wife Hannah, of Ipswich; loving grandmother to Erica (Capone) Serrin, whose love and perseverance endlessly amazed her, and her husband Jason; her great-granddaughters, Isla & Mia O'Hanley and Nina Serrin all of Gloucester; loving Aunt to nephews "JB", Rob, Doug, and Scott Westerbeke & families, and David Houlihan; special niece, Laura K. Houlihan; sister-in-law to John "Jack" H. Westerbeke, Jr. and his wife, her "sister-by-choice", Recilla "Cil" Westerbeke.
In addition to her parents, Katharine is predeceased by her beloved daughters, Laura B. Capone and Phoebe A. Souza; her devoted sisters who helped and supported her throughout their lives together, Barbara E. Houlihan and Frances K. Westerbeke; son-in-law, Joseph M. Capone; brother-in-law, Jim Houlihan; special "Friend-in-law", Nina Capone and All her fur-babies, but most recently, her beloved kitty "KoKo".
Honoring her wishes, there will be NO services. However, apologies in advance that I cannot summarize my mother's entire life in an Obit paragraph!Donations are welcome in her name to the following charitable organizations that were instrumental in helping her and the family navigate this extremely difficult time: http://www.seniorcareinc.org for Nutrition/Meals on Wheels program (or area of most need) and,http://www.caredimensions.org. Hospice services.
Arrangements by Greely Funeral Home, 212 Washington Street, Gloucester, MA 01930.
