Catherine Mary Cavagnaro
(née Kickham)

Catherine Mary Kickham Cavagnaro

10th September 1938 – 4th May 2022

Catherine Mary Kickham was born in Co. Tipperary to John Charles Kickham and Bridget Kelly Kickham.  After graduating school, she moved to England and met Louis Cavagnaro, a handsome young sailor with the United States Navy who swept her off her feet to a life in the United States. Catherine and Louis were married in his hometown of Mariposa, California on the 17th September 1960.

After moving to the Bay Area in California, they welcomed three daughters and settled in Sunnyvale. Catherine’s love of Ireland never waned so she opened The Celtic Shoppe to offer handmade goods from the British Isles. It helped her maintain a connection with her home country as well as meet Californians who shared her passion. Catherine and Louis nurtured the store to a beloved venue that has served the towns of Cupertino and Campbell for over forty years.

Catherine is survived by her three daughters of whom she was intensely proud; Ruth Cavagnaro, Louise (Wayne) Wauford and Catherine Cavagnaro; five grandchildren, Robert, Noreen, Will, Jack and Pete, as well as many other family and friends.

Requiem Mass will take place on Friday, 19th May 2023 at St. Nicholas’s Church Windgap, Co.Kilkenny at 11am followed by burial of ashes at Windgap Cemetery.

Messages of condolence can be left for the family on the link below