Kathleen Lauler

Old Lyme — Kathleen Bernadette (Hickey) Lauler, 83, of Old Lyme died peacefully at home on Sept. 28, 2016, surrounded by her loving family.

Kathleen was born in Worcester, Mass., on Feb. 13, 1933, the daughter of the late Thomas A. and Mary E. (Houlihan) Hickey.

She attended Trinity College in Washington, D.C. (where she met her husband on a blind date), graduating in 1954 with a degree in chemistry. She returned to Worcester and was employed at Holyoke Hospital School of Medical Technology.

She married the late John W. Lauler Jr. on Aug. 1, 1955.

Kathleen worked for the Central Intelligence Agency’s Office of Medical Services for 10 years before moving to Old Lyme in 1986 upon her husband’s retirement. She continued to work as a medical secretary for Dr. William Crawford in New London for another 17 years before deciding to retire.

She was an active parishioner and daily communicant at Christ the King Catholic Church. She was a beloved and prayerful member of the “God Squad,” the nickname given by her grandson to her close-knit group of ladies who shared special intentions and fellowship with their morning coffee. She was the embodiment of a true Christian woman who lived her life of faith. She will be fondly remembered as a gracious lady, with a kind and gentle soul, who always had a smile on her face.

She is survived by her daughter, Mary Prieur and her husband, Felix; sons, Michael Lauler and his wife, Cara, David Lauler and his wife, Julie, Thomas Lauler and his wife, Karen, and Greg Lauler; sisters-in-law, Anne Hickey and Bernadette Hickey; and numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

She was predeceased by her husband, John W. Lauler Jr.; son, John W. Lauler III; sisters, Mary F. (Hickey) Dolan and Margaret Hickey Moriarty; and brothers, Thomas A. Hickey Jr. and Paul F. Hickey.

Calling hours will be held from 5 to 7 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 5, at the Fulton-Theroux Funeral Home, 13 Beckwith Lane, Old Lyme.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:30 a.m. on Thursday, Oct. 6, at Christ the King Catholic Church in Old Lyme. Burial will follow in Duck River Cemetery, Old Lyme.

Please visit www.fultontherouxoldlyme.com for photos, tributes, directions and more service information.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Christ the King Catholic Church, 1 McCurdy Road, Old Lyme, CT 06371 or the Old Lyme – Phoebe Griffin Noyes Library, 2 Library Lane, Old Lyme, CT 06371.