Catherine T. Hagan of West Chester

Catherine T. “Katie” Hagan found true fulfillment in life through her 62-year marriage to her beloved late husband Jack and the five sons they reared together.

That fulfillment was manifest when Mrs. Hagan endured a brief illness at Paoli Memorial Hospital, during which time her sons and other family members remained constantly at her side, until she died on February 21. She was 89.

Mrs. Hagan (nee Berry) was born in Darby, Pa. and grew up in Darby and Lansdowne, Pa., where she graduated from Lansdowne High School in 1942. She married Jack in 1947 and they set out together immediately to do their part in creating the baby boom generation. Within nine years their five sons had been born. Mrs. Hagan then went to work as a clerk for the Bell Telephone Co., retiring in 1984 as a credit manager in Philadelphia.

In truth, though, her career was her family. She was most at home, literally and figuratively, when preparing dinner, helping with homework, baking on Sunday afternoons, or ironing a fresh shirt late in the evening for Jack to wear to work the next day. She was always there for those she loved. “She thought of others before herself,” her granddaughter Cathy said, “and she always knew the right thing to say.” As a child of the Great Depression she saw both good times and tough times over her long life, but faith and family always carried her through. Her son Kevin said, “She didn’t have a perfect life, but she lived her life perfectly.”

The daughter of Irish immigrants, Mrs. Hagan made a number of trips to Ireland with Jack, himself the grandson of Irish immigrants, to visit their relatives and their ancestral homes. They shared not just their love for each other, but also for Irish music, literature and history.

M r s . Hagan lived in Lansdowne for many years, where she and her family were members of St. Philomena Church. In her retirement years she and Jack lived in Kimberton, Pa., and were members of St. Basil the Great Church there. After moving to Wellington at Hershey’s Mill they joined Ss. Peter & Paul Church in West Chester. Over the years she was active in mother’s clubs at her sons’ schools and with the Telephone Pioneers of America.

Mrs. Hagan leaves her sons, John L. of Ocean City, N.J.; Tom, of San Francisco; Dan (Eleanor) of Northfield, N.J.; Larry (Maria) of Turnersville, N.J.; and Kevin (Barbara) of Malvern. She also leaves six grandchildren; one great-grandson; and many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband Jack; a sister, Marie; a brother, Anthony; a grandson, Brent; and a daughter-in-law, Linda.

A Mass of Catholic Burial will be said on Wednesday, Feb. 26 at 11 a.m. at Ss. Peter & Paul Church, 1325 Boot Road, West Chester, Pa. Friends and relatives may attend a viewing at the Church from 9:30 to 11 a.m. Burial will take place on Thursday, Feb. 27, at 11:30 a.m. at Washington Crossing National Cemetery, 830 Highland Road, Newtown, Pa.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Seraphic Mass Association, Pittsburgh, Pa., (http://www.seraphicmass.org/) or to the charity of your choice.

Arrangements by DellaVecchia, Reilly, Smith & Boyd Funeral Home, Inc., West Chester, 610696-1181, www.DellaFH. com.

HAGAN